Training in the Food and Beverages Sector in Ireland. Report for the FORCE Programme. First Edition.

The food and beverage industry is of overwhelming strategic importance to the Irish economy. It is also one of the fastest changing sectors. Recent trends in this largely indigenous industry in recent years include the following: globalization, large and accelerating capital outlay, company consolidation, added value product, enhanced quality demand, rapid and continuous technological change, and increased overseas operations. As the industry changes, so does the skill profile of its work force. Human resource development (HRD) specialists in the food and beverage industry face a number of challenges: a continuous training requirement, higher entry-level knowledge base, customized approach to meet company needs, certification of in-house training, production of transferable skills, and public and private sector partnership role. Five case studies suggest that, in terms of their HRD policies and practices, Irish companies emerge as world-class players. The companies studied are energetic, creative, and determined in their approach to developing their personnel for present and future requirements. The following themes can be extracted from the case studies: enhanced emphasis on social communication skills for all levels, development of in-house consultative systems, training that is increasingly technologically driven, and need for locally delivered but nationally recognized training. Training needs to be globalized. (The research methodology is appended.) (YLB)