Tag: mentoring

Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces €750,000 funding from Google.org for Docklands upskilling initiatives

Taoiseach, Micheál Martin joined Google’s Vanessa Hartley at the Fair Play Cafe in Ringsend today to announce €750,000 in funding from Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, to St Andrews Resource Centre. This project will deliver comprehensive wrap-around training and support to 1,000+ unemployed individuals and early school leavers in Dublin Docklands communities, aiming for at least 50% of beneficiaries to access further education or employment opportunities.

The funding will help future-proof Dublin’s Docklands communities through hyperlocal training initiatives that will strengthen essential skills and provide support to help people access jobs, education, and long-term employment opportunities.

Google.org provided the funding to St Andrews Resource Centre who will use the funds to support the work of This City Works, a platform between Dublin city-based community employment services, helping job seekers in Dublin find the right job for them. The training will be delivered through several vital programmes. These include a certified Train-the-Trainer programme for unemployed adults, an expanded community-based digital support for early school leavers and long-term unemployed, and a Level 5 Homecare Assistant course for 20 learners aimed at bridging local employment gaps and preparing students for AI-linked apprenticeships.

The grant will also fund wraparound support across multiple partner organisations such as LIR, Lets Go, FAACT, Fair Play Digital Hub, and others to ensure learners can access coaching, mentoring, and practical assistance. The initiative will support 100 learners through career development programmes, upskill students in ten local schools, and enable 15 learners with additional support needs to complete a modular employment programme.

Speaking at today’s event Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

“The strength of Ireland’s digital future lies in our people. This initiative directly supports our national ambition to make Ireland a global leader in applied AI. It is vital that early school leavers and those seeking new career paths have direct access to AI and digital literacy. This project shows that when we align community needs with the right training, we create a more inclusive, resilient, and future-proof workforce for the Dublin Docklands and beyond. I want to thank Google.org for its continued commitment to this invaluable work.”

Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland, said:

“The Docklands has been our home for over twenty years and we are dedicated to working in partnership with our neighbours to identify the skills and support they need to succeed. In today’s world, fluency in digital tools and AI is no longer optional, it’s essential.  The success of our programmes in recent years is why we remain committed to ensuring people from all backgrounds have access to the skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving society and work environment.”

Jim Hargis  St Andrews Resource Centre and member of This City Works, said:

“Support like this is the lifeblood of community development. It means we can immediately scale up our operations to meet the rising demand for vocational and AI and digital skills training in the Docklands community. We are grateful to Google.org for its ongoing support on this initiative, which will have a tangible, lasting impact on the lives of our learners and their families.”

The goal of This City Works is to empower vulnerable and at-risk school leavers and unemployed people in the local community of Ringsend and Pearse Street by providing training and skill enhancement opportunities, complemented by support services, with the aim of increasing their employability and promoting social inclusion.

For more information visit This City Works.

Eighteen Events Announced for Dublin City’s Local Enterprise Week 2026

Small businesses and budding entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to sample 18 events aimed at helping them to start or grow their business as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Week in Dublin City. The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, takes place from the 2nd to the 7th of March this year across the country.

While there are hundreds of events taking place nationally during the week, there are plenty of events in Dublin City open to all. These events will focus on helping small businesses or anyone just looking to get started on their business journey to plan, start, sustain and grow.  From AI and Green regulations to Food and Finance workshops there will be something for every type of business across the week.

Each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices will be running a full programme of events in their area that will cover a variety of topics relevant to small businesses and those starting up.  The events are open to all, from budding entrepreneurs to established businesses and offers the opportunity to get expert advice on key areas of business from raising funds, improving your online presence, the benefits of AI, to how to make your business more productive and save money.

Warren Cray, Head of Enterprise, Dublin City Council said on the upcoming events: 

“Local Enterprise Week is the highlight of the year for us at LEO Dublin City. It’s a real opportunity for businesses to step back and look at where they can grow, innovate, or perhaps become more sustainable — and to discover what support is right on their doorstep. Whether you’re running an established business or you’ve been sitting on an idea and wondering where to start, this is the week to do something about it. I’d encourage anyone with even a passing interest to come along, you might be surprised at what’s possible.”

The Local Enterprise Offices located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland support thousands of small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide.  Since their establishment in 2014 they have been for the first stop for entrepreneurs and small businesses and providing a range of supports including funding, mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development.

They also run key initiatives to foster entrepreneurship across the country including Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the Student Enterprise Programme and the National Enterprise Awards.  The Local Enterprise Offices are also running a campaign encouraging small businesses to save time money and energy by availing of their competitiveness and productivity supports including Green, Lean and Digital for Business. www.AllInADaysWork.ie

For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie

Details for all the events taking place across the country during Local Enterprise Week, from March 2nd to 7th March, are available at www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Week

For the Full List of Dublin City Events: Local Enterprise Week Dublin City Events 2026.

Guide to Start a New Career in Tech (Even Later in Life)

Countless people feel like changing careers, and there are plenty of reasons for this. They’ll also have more than a few other careers they could be interested in. You could be in this position and want to start a career in tech. It’s easy to see why.

That doesn’t mean it’ll seem like an easy process, though. You mightn’t know where to start. Usually, it’s not just a matter of starting to apply for jobs.

You’ll need to put a bit more time and effort into it. That doesn’t mean it has to be complicated, though. Instead, it could be more straightforward than you’d think. You might just have to take the right steps, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Some of these could have more of an impact than others, making them more than worth focusing on.

Why Start a New Career in Tech?

You’ll have plenty of careers you could consider, so you might wonder why you should start a new career in tech. The most obvious reason is that it’s an area you’re interested in. That could be more than enough to persuade you to give it a go. It’s far from the only reason it’s appealing, though.

It offers multiple other benefits, too. Some of the more interesting – and tempting – of these are:

  • Salary – Perhaps the most tempting reason to get into tech is the salary. Tech workers at all levels can expect quite a large paycheck every month. It’s one of the main reasons people consider getting into the tech industry.
  • Flexibility – Working in the tech industry is more flexible than many others. You’ll have the option to work from almost anywhere. Even companies that offer hybrid working can be more appealing than office-only industries.
  • Culture – The culture in the tech industry can be much more relaxed than many other fields. This can be one of the more tempting reasons to consider it, especially if you don’t like workplaces that are quite formal.
  • Diversity – The tech industry has a diverse employee base, but that’s not the only way it’s diverse. There’s a wealth of job types out there, and you could find some of these more interesting than others.
  • Advancement – The tech industry is growing constantly, which is great for the people working in it. This offers the possibility for a lot of growth and advancement in the industry. There’s no reason why you couldn’t take advantage of this.

These can be more than enough to persuade most people to start a new career in tech. To actually see them, though, you’ll need to actually break into the field.

This can seem quite complicated, especially considering the various parts of the tech industry you can get into. It doesn’t need to be overwhelming, though. Taking the right steps could be more than enough to help with this. They’ll end up helping you get into tech faster than you’d think.

Five of these steps can be worth focusing on.

Start a New Career in Tech: 5 Steps to Take

1. Take a Look at Your C.V.

One of the first steps you should take is to take a hard look at your C.V. It helps to give you a strong idea of what your skill set is and whether or not there’s anything you’ll need to learn going forward. Start off by focusing on any transferable skills and experience you could have already.

After that, it’s a matter of figuring out what areas you need to work in to break into the tech industry. It’ll help you more than you’d think.

It gives you a firm idea of what you need to do going forward. See it as a way to come up with a gameplan. You’ve no reason not to make this one of the first steps you take with your new career.

2. Consider Learning New Skills

There’s a decent chance you’ll need to learn some new skills before you can start a new career in tech. Taking a hard look at your C.V. helps you figure this out. This doesn’t always have to mean you have to go back to college full-time, though. Instead, you could learn more than a few of them online.

Most of these are more affordable than attending college full-time. You can even do them from the comfort of your own home.

The benefits of an online MBA are well-known, and you can fit this around your schedule. It’s worth looking into the most relevant courses for you and your new career. Once you’ve completed it, you’ll be in a better position to find a job you love. The process doesn’t even need to take too long.

3. Start Networking

You’ll already have a strong network of friends and other professionals in the career you’re already in. While these can help you in a specific career, they mightn’t be able to help you break into tech. It could be more than worth starting to network with professionals in the tech industry.

This can help you moving forward more than you’d think. They could give you advice, and even point you in the right direction for job opportunities. While this takes a little time, it’ll be more than worth it.

4. Build Mentoring Relationships

It’s always worth having a mentor in your career, as they can help you get started in it and grow into your career. When you’re trying to break into tech, this is especially recommended. It’s just a matter of finding someone who’s willing to mentor you when you’re starting out in tech.

Going with someone who’s been in the tech industry for years is recommended. They’ll have a wealth of advice they could give you.

While it could take some time and effort to find someone who’ll have the time to mentor you, it’s worth it. Make sure to follow their advice and ask plenty of questions when you’re with them. You’ve no reason not to.

5. Go to Career Fairs

You’ll eventually get to a point where you’ll start applying for jobs in the tech industry. That doesn’t always have to mean looking at jobs websites and hoping for the best. Going to career fairs with a lot of tech companies involved can be more than recommended. It offers more than a few benefits.

These will all make it more than worth it. You could end up having a better chance of getting a job with them.

You can actually engage with companies that are hiring and find out more about them. This gives you the chance to stand out from other potential applicants, and you could even get some advice while you’re at it. You’ve no reason not to go to a few of them while you’re applying for jobs.

Wrapping Up

Countless people consider changing careers, and it’s easy to see why so many of them do. They’re fed up with their current job, and they don’t see any potential career progression. You could end up in this position and want to make a change.

You’ll have plenty of other options ahead of you. You could want to start a new career in tech, and you’ll have more than a few reasons for this.

While this seems complicated, it doesn’t have to be. By following the right steps, it could be easier than you’d think. You’ll just have to be willing to put the time and effort into it. It’ll pay off dividends once you start your new career.