Minister visits LOETB Midlands Skills Centre in Tullamore
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless recently paid a visit to the Midlands Skills Centre in Tullamore.
The visit highlighted the important role the centre plays in supporting skills development, apprenticeship training and workforce upskilling across the Midlands region.
Opened in 2022, the Midlands Skills Centre is a modern training and enterprise facility serving the Midlands region.
The centre includes specialist workshops, training rooms, meeting spaces and an auditorium, providing a high-quality environment for learning, collaboration and skills development.
During the visit, the Minister met with apprentices and staff at the centre, together with public representatives from Offaly, members of the LOETB Board and its committees, and senior management of LOETB.
Speaking on the day, Minister Lawless said: "I am delighted to be here today at the Midlands Skills Centre to witness first-hand the high-quality further education and training opportunities on offer at this fantastic facility.
"Laois and Offaly Training and Education Board is playing a key role in empowering individuals, supporting communities, and strengthening the regional economy and I would like to acknowledge LOETB’s strong focus on upskilling and reskilling, which enables responsiveness to industry needs, particularly in critical sectors such as construction."
The centre works closely with employers and industry to respond to local and national skills needs, helping people gain qualifications, access employment opportunities and develop future-ready skills.
The centre supports employers and employees across Laois and Offaly through a range of upskilling and reskilling programmes in areas including agriculture, hospitality, sustainability and medtech.
The Midlands Skills Centre is also a key location for apprenticeship training in the region, with apprentices completing Phase 2 electrical training on site.
Currently, 835 apprentices are registered with the apprenticeship team across Laois and Offaly, reflecting continued growth in apprenticeship pathways and skills development opportunities in the region.