Drinagh, Lisavaird, North Cork Creameries, Dairygold, Glanbia Co-Operative, Barryroe, Carbery Milk Products and Bandon Co-Operative participating.

‘Foot in The Door’ – an Irish co-operative industry initiative targeting potential new employees for the agrifood sector is coming to Clonakilty, Co. Cork, at the Fernhill House Hotel from 9.00 am – 1.00 pm on Thursday 23^rd October.

‘Foot in The Door’ is a training and advisory event for currently unemployed job seekers.  It was launched in May by ICOS Skillnets and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine, Simon Coveney, T.D.  The initiative is targeting potential new employees for the agrifood sector.  Events are taking place around the country to highlight new job opportunities and skills needs in the agrifood industry.

The free event in Clonakilty takes place at the Fernhill House Hotel from 9.00 am – 1.00 pm on Thursday 23^rd October.  Advance registration is essential.   To register to attend, candidates should please contact Breeda Flood or Billy Goodburn on 01 613 1348 or on email: billy.goodburn@icos.ie 

Foot in The Door events are happening nationwide (with agrifood co-ops from each region participating).  The Clonakilty event includes a jobs advice clinic being provided by ICOS and co-ops including Drinagh, Lisavaird, North Cork Creameries, Dairygold, Glanbia Co-Operative, Barryroe, Carbery Milk Products and Bandon Co-Operative.

Billy Goodburn, ICOS Skillnets Manager said, “The future growth and expansion of the Irish agrifood industry requires additional human resources.  In particular the dairy sector has considerable potential given the industry expansion agenda that exists around the removal of milk quotas next year.

“Our initiatives ties in with growth plans for the agrifood industry and the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.  The events are free of charge to job seekers in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Job Seekers Benefits and other kinds of allowances, provided that they are registered with their local DSP offices and are not on a CE Scheme, or other Jobs-bridge type of initiative.”

At the recent launch, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said,  “I welcome this clever initiative which is seeking to open up new opportunities for job seekers in a sector of the economy that is confident and ambitious and has strong employment potential.  The Irish agrifood industry is well positioned to meet continuously growing global demand for foods.  It’s important that this growth opportunity has widespread economic benefits for everyone and most particularly for job seekers in rural areas which are the heartland of Irish agrifood production.”

The agri-food sector in Ireland contributes a value of €24 billion to the national economy, generates almost 10% of Ireland’s exports and provides 7.7% of national employment. When employment in inputs, processing and marketing is included, the agrifood sector accounts for almost 10% of employment.

ICOS – the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society represents co-operatives and organisations in Ireland – including the Irish dairy processing co-operatives and livestock marts – whose associated businesses have a combined turnover in the region of €14 billion, with some 150,000 individual members, employing 12,000 people in Ireland, and a further 24,000 people overseas.

“Foot in the Door” Events

ICOS Skillnet is running events nationally, in conjunction with employers from the Co-Operative Sector, aimed at helping unemployed persons to enhance their chances of gaining employment in the co-Op sector in Ireland.

The Events comprise:

• 2 x introductory training sessions, that will enhance your skills base
• An opportunity to meet with prospective employers
• An opportunity to access FREE Training Courses, relevant to the skills requirements by employers, not only in the co-op sector but across all industries.
• An opportunity to network and make new contacts.
• Events will run at various locations across the country, to include, Mallow, Clonakilty, Sligo, Dublin, Tipperary and Galway.

Types of introductory training sessions being covered will include but are not limited to:

Retail Customer Service – You are the Difference
Interview Preparation Skills
Career Development
Basic Security Awareness & Loss Prevention
Communications
Retail Skills & Merchandising
Understanding Health & Safety & Basic Fire Awareness
Emotional Intelligence
Presentation Skills
Personal Effectiveness
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For Eligibility Criteria, please visit: http://www.icos.ie/skillnet/information-for-the-unemployed/

Advance registration is essential. To register to attend, candidates should please contact Breeda Flood or Billy Goodburn on 01 6131348 or on email: billy.goodburn@icos.ie