Proud graduates receive certificates at ‘Life’ ceremony

A TOTAL of 47 proud participants in the Diageo Learning For Life programme graduated with their certificates at a special ceremony at St James’s Gate last week.

The young people, who were all previously on the Live Register, were acknowledged at the graduation ceremony that was attended by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton.

The minister presented them with their Learning For Life certificates, as part of a Diageo Ireland initiative that equips the long term unemployed with the skills needed to find work in the hospitality industry.

The programme, piloted in 2014 in Dublin 8, was expanded in 2015 to include Dublin 1, Dundalk and Belfast.

Learning For Life is Diageo Ireland’s cornerstone programme that was developed by the company as part of its overall commitment to sustainable community-based initiatives in Ireland.

It takes young people who have been on the Live Register for an extended period through an intensive seven-week training programme in the hospitality sector.

The participants are then given an opportunity to take up a further work placement of six weeks with a Diageo hospitality industry partner in a landmark pub, hotel or restaurant in Dublin, Louth and Belfast.

Speaking at the event, the Tánaiste said:

“This is my second year at the Learning For Life Graduation Ceremony and I must extend my congratulations to the young people here for the absolute enthusiasm and commitment they have shown to the programme.

“I must further congratulate Diageo Ireland for reinvesting in and expanding this programme, which simultaneously taps into Ireland’s tourism and hospitality industry, while providing people with genuine transferable skills and opportunities.

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Peter O’Brien of Diageo said the Learning For Life programme is all about supporting local communities in Dublin, and also in Dundalk and Belfast.

“We’re proud of St James’s Gate’s long history in Ireland and of the Guinness legacy, which is built on the foundations of a sustainable business that also gives back to the community,

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“The participants on the Learning for Life programme have excelled in qualities that are key to Ireland’s world renowned hospitality sector.

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