United Drug Plc., Ireland’s leading wholesale distributor of pharmacy products, have been working in conjunction with IBEC Retail Skillnet to promote Occupational Qualifications in the Retail Pharmacy sector in Ireland.

Together we have developed specific training modules, that have been tailored to meet the changing needs in the pharmacy sector.

United Drug representatives, Ann Walsh (Retail Services), Adrienne Morley, Nichola Hosie (Business Development) and Siobhan Heaslip (Profitlines) accompanied United Drug Managing Director Rosemary McGrath, to the first Retail Assessor training session at the CityWest hotel in Dublin on 26th and 27th February.

Pharmacies from Newbridge, Carrick-on-Shannon, Baltinglass, Dunshaughlin, Wicklow, Ferbane, Ballymun and Pearse Street, Dublin were represented at the inaugural training session.

Pictured with Caroline Heagney (IBEC Retail Skillnet Regional Consultant) are United Drug trainees 

United Drug have extended an open invitation to any of the pharmacies in their Network wishing to participate in this new initiative. For those looking for further information or to register for the Retail training programme please contact Ann Walsh on 01 4632545 or contact Caroline Heagney directly on 086 207 8395. 

Donnybrook Fair have been a member of the IBEC Retail Skillnet Network for a number of years. Over the years their staff have embarked on and successfully completed a range of modules, which IBEC Retail Skillnet offer and support, at FETAC Level 5.

Recently a number of their staff received their Level 5 Retail Operations Certificate. A Retail Operations Certificate is awarded, by FETAC, to candidates who have successfully completed a range of 8 prescribed retail based modules.

An Awards ceremony was held by Donnybrook Fair to present the Certificates to the staff to recognise their achievements.

Certificates were presented to the staff in the store by An Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan, T.D. The minister congratulated the staff on their achievements and spent time talking to them and listening to their experiences of working on the modules over the past 3 years.

Pictured are (l-r): Alan Nuzam (CEO Skillnets Ltd.), Zita Csibi (candidate), An Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan, T.D., and Joe Doyle (Owner)

Sean Carlin, IBEC Retail Skillnet National Co-ordinator, praised the efforts of the assessor responsible for the delivery of the programme in Donnybrook Fair, Ms. Patrice Ryan. Sean also paid tribute to Joe Doyle, the owner, for his forward thinking and proactive approach to training in the retail sector saying “Joe’s commitment to the development of his staff and provision of exceptional levels of service to his customers is an example for all retailers to follow”.

Caroline Heagney, IBEC Retail Skillnet Regional Consultant, complimented all the recipients of awards on their tremendous achievement, particularly as the group were all originally from various countries with different languages and cultures.

Pictured are (back row l-r): Jolita Dabradziejunaite, Michael Iaris, Zita Csibi (candidates) and (front row l-r): Joe Doyle (owner), An Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan, T.D.

In completing the required 8 FETAC Level 5 retail modules to achieve the Retail Operations Certificate the candidates have acquired a work based qualification which is equivalent to a Leaving Cert. within the National Framework of Qualifications.

This will allow the candidates to access some further academic courses at Institutions of Higher Education.

Staff at Brown Thomas, in Cork, recently took part in a pilot programme offered by IBEC Retail Skillnet to introduce Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) into the retail sector.

10 experienced staff in the Cork store were chosen to participate in this new and innovative scheme. They completed a programme of work, including development of a portfolio which highlighted their knowledge, skills and experience gained in the sector over the years, focusing on the area of Retail Customer Service.

All 10 candidates were successful in achieving their FETAC Level 5 Retail Customer Service Award through RPL. The programme was assessed by an IBEC Retail Skillnet Regional Assessor and was supported instore by Barry O’Sullivan and the H.R. team.

Barry O’Sullivan, Brown Thomas, said “What this programme has done for us is rekindle the passion that we have for offering 5*service and establishing our customer’s needs, it is driven by the desire to create an environment where the customer feels special”.

He added “The staff loved the whole programme, it added extra excitement to the floor and it made people realise, and be proud of, what they do well. There is roughly 250 years of retail experience on the floor and what this RPL programme has done for us is made us aware we know the business”.

IBEC Retail Skillnet now offer a chance to achieve retail based qualifications through a process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

IBEC Retail Skillnet are one of only 6 training providers in Ireland to be approved by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) to offer specific awards through the process of RPL.

RPL is a process through which the knowledge, skills and competencies which an individual already has are formally recognised.

IBEC Retail Skillnet currently offer 4 FETAC Level 5 Awards through RPL. These are

• Retail Customer Service
• Retail Selling
• Communications
• Work Experience