15 May 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Pictured speaking this morning at the Cork Training Centre Biopharma Facility in Carrigaline Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Cork Training Centre Biopharma facility is one of the two training centres run by Cork ETB. It is located in Carrigaline Industrial Park, Crosshaven Road, Carrigaline, Co. Cork within 20 minutes of all of the major Life Sciences manufacturers in Cork. The current building footprint is around 1500 square metres.
Both local and national dignitaries along with many key figures of Ireland’s Life Sciences sector joined together today (Monday 15th May) to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the facility. As part of the celebration, companies that have supported the centre over the last 10 years through its initial establishment, the setting up of its key programmes, the contribution of equipment and the provision of work placement opportunities were recognised.
Located in Carrigaline Industrial Park on the Crosshaven Road, the centre is within 20 minutes of all the major Life Sciences manufacturers in Cork. The hands-on facility has proved to be an integral source of education and training for those involved in the Pharma, Biopharma and Med Tech industries. The centre was unique when established in 2006, recognising the need for the development of practical skills within the emerging Life Sciences sector in Cork. The facility provides opportunities for future industry professionals to enhance their practical diagnostic skills, while also teaching and encouraging them to display all the required attitudes and behaviours that would be required by an employer in their time on site.
While it is a multi-million Euro investment on behalf of the Irish government within the local area, the centre has built on its success by collaboration with and the supporting of other training providers including Cork Institute of Technology, Tallaght Institute of Technology, Innopharma, NIBRT, Skillsnet, Bio =Pharmachemical Ireland, Limerick/Clare Education and Training Board and Waterford/Wexford Education and Training Board. Such collaboration with others along with continued industry consultation is at the core of its success, along with a focus on delivery and the sustained commitment of staff to ensure those trained in the centre get the best opportunity to succeed in a career in the Life Sciences sector.
Speaking at the event, Minister Simon Coveney commented on the importance of this facility, not only to industry development in Cork but also on a national level, saying: “Training and development plays an important role in increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of Irish business because it promotes the key strategic importance of people. Successful organisations encourage their staff to reach their full potential, because they know that this allows the organisation to also reach its full potential. In today’s challenging business environment competitive advantage is more and more dependent on the quality, knowledge and commitment of staff.”
Kyran Johnson, Site Lead of Jannsen Biopharma and a member of one of the inaugural groups to receive training in the Carrigaline centre, also spoke at the event, relating from personal experience the importance of such a vital facility. “I would like to congratulate the Carrigaline Biopharma training facility on the 10th anniversary of it’s opening,” he said. “By providing training in an industrial scale process and using current technology, this facility has played a critical role in supporting the growing Biopharmaceutical industry. On behalf of the companies I would like to thank Valerie Cowman and the team at the facility for their support in bringing so many skilled and talented people into our companies and contributing to our success.”
Among the companies awarded with Certificates of Recognition during the event were Janssen Biologics, Eli Lilly, Novartis, GE Healthcare, Pall and GSK.
For more information on the Cork Training Centre Biopharma Facility, training courses available and how to apply please visit www.corktrainingcentre.ie or check out Facebook/ Cork-Training-Centre or Twitter @CorkTrainingCtr
Pictured at the Cork Training Centre Biopharma Facility in Carrigaline, Kyran Johnson, Janssen Bio Pharmaceutical.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Ted Owens, CE Cork ETB and Micheal Martin TD. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
