Professor Paul McSweeny, vice-president of learning and teaching, UCC: Bridie Corrigan Matthews, network manager Taste 4 Success Skillnet: Tracey Donnery, executive director at Skillnet Ireland: Dr Amy-Jane Troy. Food Industry Training Unit, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, UCC: and Mary McCarthy Buckely, manager at the Food Industry Training Unit at UCC, gather to launch a new research study into the use of digital badges in the food and agri-food sectors in UCC. Digital badges are an innovative solution to promoting and recognising upskilling within the sector.
Download the full Digital badge credentials in the Irish food and agri-food sector Brochure here
The Taste 4 Success Skillnet works with its members to identify and drive training and upskilling in the food, seafood and drink sectors, to meet business, people and performance needs. In particular, we encourage and support the development of new foods, new drinks, new skills and new opportunities to grow and promote Irish Food, Seafood and Drink products, and to support job-seekers in gaining new skills and work opportunities across the sectors.
Our members include multinationals, large, medium, small indigenous Irish companies, and a growing number of micro and artisan producers involved in food, seafood and drink (micro brewing) production.
The Taste4Success Skillnet primarily focusses on supporting those in employment within the food, seafood and drink sectors sector/region. Whilst our key focus is on the needs of member companies, we also offer a small number of fully-funded programmes for jobseekers, subject to eligibility criteria and places being available on the programme.
We offer a limited number of FREE places to those who are unemployed and seeking to increase their employment prospects through up-skilling in relevant training. If you are currently unemployed, you may be eligible to attend training with Taste4Success Skillnet with no charge or impact on your social welfare payments or benefits (for those who are in receipt of such payments). Check eligibility criteria below.
Several other Skillnet Networks participate in the Skillnet Ireland Employment Activation programme. This initiative is designed exclusively for unemployed people and includes free training in skills in demand by companies combined with direct access to employers through meaningful work placements. For information on other Skillnet Networks offering free training programmes for those seeking employment, see the Skillnet Ireland website or the Eligibility Criteria details here.
FUNDING AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
Funding is available to trainees/employees/owner-managers working in the food, seafood, beverage and related sectors; e.g. logistics, distribution, catering, hospitality, restaurant, or any operation involving the production, supply, delivery of food and beverage.
Membership is free – www.taste4successskillnet.ie/membership.
Employers must pay the funded value of the trainee’s cost for attendance at the training programmes and any associated exams.
Taste 4 Success Skillnet cannot accept payment directly from employees or individuals.
Eligible Job Seekers , who are registered with the Department of Social Protection,
may be fully funded subject to eligibility criteria and a place being available on the programme.
Eligibility criteria apply www.taste4successskillnet.ie/jobseekers
Application forms available at www.taste4successskillnet.ie/jobseekers or email info@taste4success.ie
Skillnet Ireland Management Development Management Programmes
Enhancing management capacity, particularly in SMEs, is a national policy imperative and a major priority for Skillnet Ireland and our networks. The suite of Skillnet Ireland Management Development Management Programmes are available to help business owners and managers improve business performance and enable businesses achieve better results. Click here for more information.
