Case Study

Learning for Life

Diageo Ireland

Learning for Life is a Diageo Ireland initiative which was run this year in partnership with the Department of Justice and Equality and the Immigrant Council of Ireland. Learning for Life was originally piloted in Dublin 8 in 2014 and programmes have since taken place across Dublin, Louth, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Kerry and Kilkenny in partnership with the Department of Social Protection. Some 271 learners have participated since that time and two thirds are now working.

Diageo works in many countries throughout the world and with people from many diverse backgrounds. It is core to our ethos that we help people, of all races, beliefs and backgrounds, to make the best of themselves. This is the first corporate partnership in this area with the Irish Government and follows the Supreme Court decision that allows refugees work in Ireland while waiting for their application to be processed.

In June Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration Mr David Stanton TD, presented 22 participants of the Diageo Ireland Learning for Life Programme with certificates in a special graduation ceremony which took place in the Guinness Storehouse. This is the first time that refugee and asylum seekers in Ireland have been provided with specific hospitality training for the Irish jobs market, which leads to a City and Guilds qualification.

The group who have completed this programme this year were all from the Mosney Accommodation Centre in County Meath. Their countries of origin were Albania, Algeria, Angola, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.