Learn more about opportunities provided by The Food Safety Skills Fund Programme
In the dynamic world of food safety, continuous learning and collaboration are essential for ensuring the highest standards. The Food Safety Skills Fund Programme, an initiative by safefood, is a beacon for professionals committed to advancing food safety across the island of Ireland. This innovative programme provides bursaries to safefood Knowledge Network members, empowering them to enrich their skills, broaden their experiences, and foster vital connections within the food safety community.
“At its essence, the Food Safety Skills Fund Programme strives to cultivate a culture of excellence and collaboration in the realm of food safety,” shares Trish Twohig, Director of Food Safety, safefood. “We firmly believe that by investing in the development of our members, we not only elevate individual competencies but also strengthen the collective capacity to safeguard public health and enhance consumer confidence.”
The programme is currently run on an annual basis with this term ending in December 2024. The programme offers a limited number of funded bursaries, up to €1,200 or sterling equivalent, subject to vouched costs. These bursaries empower participants to embark on diverse learning opportunities, ranging from visits to laboratories and attendance at conferences to engagement with centres of excellence and participation in specialised training events focused on food safety. The programme is open to members working in food safety based on the island of Ireland. safefood strongly encourages cross-border collaboration through this initiative, not only to enrich participants’ perspectives but also to facilitate the exchange of best practices and the alignment of food safety standards across the island.
Emma Duffy, an Environmental Health Officer based in Belfast, shares her enthusiasm for the programme, stating, “I thoroughly enjoyed the Train the Trainer course I attended through the Food Safety Skills Fund Programme. I hope to cascade certain elements of the course to my colleagues, certainly on giving feedback when we present and looking at the way we give training. I hope to record some webinars for training purposes for our food businesses and also for our external council website.”
The impact of the programme extends beyond individual development to broader outcomes, including contributions to policy development and bolstering the knowledge economy. By equipping professionals with the latest insights and tools, the programme empowers them to actively shape policies that uphold the highest standards of food safety and support sustainable economic growth.
For those aspiring to join the safefood Knowledge Network and avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the Food Safety Skills Fund Programme, the process is straightforward. Simply sign up for membership through the safefood Knowledge Network website (www.safefoodkn.net) and submit a completed application form. With no set closing date for applications, interested individuals are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience, as bursaries are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis or until the programme fund is exhausted.
In conclusion, Trish Twohig reiterates safefood’s commitment to advancing food safety excellence across the island of Ireland. “Together, through initiatives like the Food Safety Skills Fund Programme, we can build a resilient food safety ecosystem that not only meets current challenges but also anticipates and adapts to future ones.” For more information, please visit www.safefood.net/food-safety/skills-fund
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