LOETB and Bord Na Mona have collaborated on a unique Traineeship for Bord Na Mona employees that supports the company to maximise the carbon capture and storage potential of its peatlands and play a key role in attaining Ireland’s climate and biodiversity goals.
The fist iterations of a programme that will see over 160 Bord Na Mona employees sustain their employment as the company transitions from brown to green kicked off this week.
It is designed to provide Bord Na Mona employees with a skillset that will enable them successfully undertake the work required to restore the bogs of mid-Ireland and ensure they gain transferable skills for employment or further studies in other sectors such as construction, forestry, sustainable agriculture and tourism, and the wider green economy.
The Traineeship module offers the opportunity to blend work-based learning with formal instruction in both training and peatland settings.
Employees will gain QQI Certification in Biodiversity & Environment, among other modules, and the skills to recreate native peatland habitats, rich in biodiversity and cultural significance.
Employees will also acquire certification in QQI Safety & Health at Work and Work Practice as well as industry recognised qualifications in Environmental & Waste Management and construction-related skills.
There is a strong sustainable development focus embedded in the programme and employees will develop critical climate change and environmental knowledge.
Chief Executive of LOETB, Joe Cunningham, welcomed the initiative: “LOETB understands the importance of Bord Na Mona to the communities of Laois and Offaly, and the company has contributed significantly to the Further Education and Training landscape through its commitment to Apprenticeship over many successful years.
“This programme not only sustains employment with one of the regions key employers but provides an opportunity to enhance our landscape and green economy while carving a sustainable future for the communities of our region.”
Ciaran Butler, Learning and Development Specialist at Bord na Móna said: “We work very closely with LOETB and greatly value the expertise they provide.
“These training programmes are important for Bord na Móna, providing our people with the new learnings and skills needed for peatland restoration and rehabilitation, and will ultimately help us deliver on our climate action objectives.”
Bord na Móna Chief Executive, Tom Donnellan, also said: “The significant investment in the restoration and rehabilitation of peatlands will quickly yield a range of rich benefits for society.
“Where once peat was harvested, Bord na Móna will now take meaningful action to keep over one hundred million tonnes of carbon in the ground, capture millions more tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, and create rich and diverse habitats for our native plant and animal species.
“We believe there are huge opportunities for everyone in society as we deal with the climate emergency and we are looking forward to sharing the benefits of this process with people across Ireland.”
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