This article is from page 33 of the 2007-07-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
POLISH workers in Kilkee hotels who successfully completed a FAS Skills for Work course have been commended for their application to studies and their level of achieve- ment.
The group of eight spent fifteen weeks on a part-time series of classes that had to be juggled with varying duty shifts. It was delivered in Kil- kee Bay Hotel by Clare Adult Basic Education Service (CABES), an arm of the Clare Vocational Education Sonatas
FAS devised the Skills for Work course as part of a new programme
from its Services to Business sector. In Kilkee, it was delivered by Kala Moloney of CABES whose tutors and materials costs are paid for by FAS.
Karl Quinn, co-ordinator of Eng- lish language programmes within CABES, who presented certificates to the workers, said he was full of admiration for the progress made throughout the course and looked forward to other similar courses around the county.
Margot Walsh, Skills for Work co- ordinator with FAS, also commented on the progress achieved during the course and hoped that the partici- pants could involve themselves in
further segments of the programme.
Designed to provide easy access to training for employees, the pro- gramme improves essential commu- nication skills and educational levels in the workplace, helping ensure a competitive edge to the employer.
The recipients of certificates were Jolanta and Krzysztof Ciesielski, Marck Sulkowski, Lukaz Kandler and his wife, Kamila, Sebastian Sulkowski, Andrzej Janoska and An- eta Sadowsti.
After the awards ceremony, the stu- dents presented Kala Moloney with a photographic encyclopaedia of Poland. An informal meal followed, featuring typical Polish food made
by the workers and samples of her native foods made by Kala Moloney who is Indian-born.
Several courses are running suc- cessfully in companies around Clare. Benefits are two-fold: the employees, for their part, develop new skills while companies gain in having employees with greater flexibility, improved communication skills and an interest in training and develop- ment.
Other benefits for employers are increased quality and output, more profitability, increased retention of employees, better team performance and health and safety record and or- ganisational flexibility.