KWETB proudly launches Ireland’s first Retail Assured Programme with Kildare Village
KWETB Proudly Launches Ireland’s First Retail Assured Programme with Kildare Village a pioneering retail training programme, developed from start to finish by the innovative team at KWETB and formally accredited by City & Guilds Assured.

KWETB’s Head of Innovation and Training Eileen Cullen with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Victor Biffi Rosano, Business Director at Kildare Village.
This first-of-its-kind certification marks a major milestone for the Irish retail sector, offering formal recognition of in-house training and on-the-job learning for retail employees. With over 500 staff set to receive digital skills badges in 2025, this programme sets a new standard for workforce development in Ireland.
We were delighted to be joined by Minister James Lawless, Mark Wall TD, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, Mary Lyons (Director of Enterprise, Employees and Skills, SOLAS) and Siobhan Keogh (Regional Skills Forum Manager) in celebrating this fantastic achievement and with the sun shining, it truly was a great day for County Kildare and for an education and training collaboration.
As Eileen Cullen, KWETB’s Head of Innovation and Training, said,“We are proud and excited to have collaborated with Kildare Village on this innovative programme. It showcases how strong partnerships between education and industry — supported by key stakeholders like Kildare County Council — can deliver real value to learners, employers, and communities alike. This collaboration is about thinking differently to recognise on-the-job learning and skills development, and, more importantly, making those skills visible and valued.”
This initiative is a powerful example of how KWETB is leading the way in developing innovative, real-world training solutions that respond to both industry needs and lifelong learning goals. It’s not just a programme, it’s a blueprint for how we can continue to invest in people, progress, and the future of work.