Kerry Skillnet Killorglin, Kerry

South Kerry Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets Ltd. funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills. Further details on Skillnets programs can be found at www.skillnets.ie The South Kerry Skillnet is promoted by the South Kerry Development Partnership Limited. Training Programs & Support Services Training is becoming more important than ever as business knowledge is becoming a key source of competitive advantage and must be ongoing to maintain and improve the performance of individuals and their contribution to the enterprise. All training courses will be delivered at times and venues in the area that suit the needs of the members, minimising cost and disruption to the business. Funding Support Up to 20% of the direct training costs will be paid by the South Kerry Skillnet project to businesses participating in the training programmes with further support for networking events and collaboration initiatives between member enterprises. Network Membership Membership of South Kerry Skillnet is open to all private enterprises. Current membership represents all major sectors including hospitality, services, retail, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, leisure, arts/crafts and fishing. The Importance of Networks for SMEs To compete and survive in this today's environment small firms must act to overcome the disadvantages of their size and limited resources. Networks have emerged as the new response to competition and the challenges of globalisation particularly for small businesses providing a way for firms to develop joint solutions to common problems.