THIRTY-FIVE leaders from engineering-led organisations in the Thomond Region attended a Leaders’ Breakfast Briefing on Talent hosted by Engineers Ireland Thomond region in the Radisson Blu hotel, Limerick last Friday, March 29.
The keynote speaker, David Collings, Professor of Human Resource Management and Associate Dean for Research at DCU, informed delegates that 85 per cent of respondents to a recent PWC survey agreed that attracting and retaining key talent would be the top HR challenge in 2019. Mr Collings also detailed the Buy-Build-Borrow model for talent and urged leaders to take a far stronger strategic approach to talent building, which will result in better engagement, innovation, performance and retention.
Dee Kehoe, CPD Director at Engineers Ireland, introduced leaders to the Engineers Ireland CPD (continuing professional development) Accredited Employer standard. She stated that 130 organisations across all engineering sectors are accredited to this voluntary standard for CPD and that the benefits of attaining the standard include the ability to harness a holistic framework for CPD policy and practices, improved talent recruitment and retention, increased innovation and benchmarking, and knowledge sharing with a network of high performing organisations.
Three leaders from CPD Accredited organisations also spoke about the impacts and results that the Engineers Ireland standard has had on their companies. Barry Lowe, Engineering Manager at Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon (LTTS) detailed how LTTS has been able to translate learnings from organisations in other sectors to improve performance. Pat Donnellan, Engineering Manager of Vision Care (part of J&J Ireland) showcased the development of a J&J cross-campus CPD steering group which has delivered great results and the Operations Director of 4site, Niall Looney, revealed that, because of the CPD standard, the company now has a well performing Innovation Forum.
Engineers Ireland Thomond region will host a free CPD event on 15 May for engineering and HR personnel from local engineering-led organisations to hear in more detail the significant positive outcomes for organisations that have achieved the CPD standard.
To attend this free CPD event or more information on the Engineers Ireland CPD Accredited Employer standard, visit www.engineersireland.ie or contact Dee Kehoe, CPD Director, via dkehoe@engineersireland.ie
