WEST-Cork based agri-businesses Keohane Seafoods, Bandon Co-op, and Carbery Group are collaborating on an exciting project to develop future leaders in the agri-food industry in West Cork.

In an industry/academic partnership, three of the region’s largest employers, together with the Organisation and Professional Development Department in Munster Technological University (MTU), are sponsoring a group of managers through a programme to strengthen their leadership capability.

Over the course of a year, 13 managers will undertake a Level 6 supervisory management programme.

Participants are being equipped with skills in leadership styles, effective communication, and managing change, all critical competencies in today’s evolving business environment.

Alongside this, they are receiving structured training in performance management, setting clear expectations, and conducting review processes.

‘West Cork has long been recognised for the quality of our agri-food sector. This programme ensures that we are creating the next generation of leaders to ensure we can hold on to that reputation for quality,’ said Geraldine Collins of Carbery.

MTU’s spokesperson added: ‘We know that the powerful combination of further education and industry application is how we can stay ahead in competitiveness in Ireland. A collaboration like this one, with the learning taking place in practical hands-on environments will be so beneficial to participants and their teams they will lead in the future.’

A hallmark of the programme is its blended delivery. Classes are held both at MTU and within the companies’ own facilities, enabling participants to apply new knowledge directly to their day-to-day responsibilities.

This integration of academic learning with workplace practice ensures that the training remains relevant, impactful, and immediately transferable.

Beyond formal learning outcomes, the collaboration has created a peer network spanning seafood, dairy processing, and agricultural co-operatives and deepening inter-company connections across the wider West Cork economy.

By learning together, managers gain perspectives from across the food sector, exchanging experiences and best practices that would otherwise remain within individual companies.

This initiative demonstrates how collaborative approaches to professional development can deliver results that go beyond what a single organisation might achieve alone.

‘By pooling resources and aligning with MTU’s expertise, Keohane Seafoods, Carbery, and Bandon Co-op are setting a precedent for strategic skills development in the region, building both stronger companies and a more resilient local economy,’ said Paul O’Leary, Keohane Seafoods.