SQT Blog

With September coming and children returning to school and students starting or returning to college, many people begin to think of their own training needs. There has never been as much emphasis on upskilling for all of us.

Here in SQT we find a big increase in course bookings at this time of year. I just want to draw your attention to some of the longer courses commencing shortly. Here’s a quick list and I’ve inserted a link back to the course page, where further details can be found. I’ve included public courses of four days or more duration.

Black Belt – HETAC level 8, commencing 12th October Dublin

Green Belt – HETAC level 7, commencing 22nd September Dublin and 19th October in Cork

Green Belt – HETAC level 6, commencing 22nd September Dublin and 19th October in Cork

NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, commencing 23rd September Dublin

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, commencing 28th September Dublin

Certified Energy Management – AEE, commencing 21st September Dublin

Train the Trainer, National Register of Trainers – FETAC level 6, commencing 12th October Dublin and 16th November Limerick

Quality Management Systems Auditor/Lead Auditor – IRCA, commencing various dates in the Autumn in Dublin and Limerick

Lean Manufacturing Tools – FETAC level 5, commencing 14th September Dublin

IEMA Approved Foundation Course in Environmental Auditing (Ireland), commencing 11th October Dublin

IEMA Approved Advanced EMS Auditing Course (Ireland), commencing 22nd November Dublin

Occupational Health & Safety Management System Lead Auditor, commencing 8th November Dublin

Good luck to all.

SQT training was originally called Shannon Quality Training. So when Noel Raftery, formerly Lecturer in Quality in Sligo Institute of Technology and myself thought of a kayaking challenge, some quality training on the Shannon seemed apt!

Here’s Noel and myself in action. We have one more day to do to complete the river but the weather has been too windy these past two weekends to get the lakes done. Who’d have thought there’d be a problem with wind in August!

It really is living the company name!

Frank McDonald wrote an interesting article recently in The Irish Times about recent waste management initiatives in the Defence Forces.

(Waste Management is one of our core Environmental Management training courses hence why I was interested).

McDonald wrote: The Defence Forces have gone green by recycling up to 70 per cent of the waste they generate, slashing the volume going to landfill by more than three-quarters over the past eight years from 6,000 to 1,300 tonnes annually.

The cost of dealing with waste has also dropped dramatically, from €1.3 million in 2002 to an estimated €450,000 this year – largely as a result of switching from 16 local waste disposal contracts to a single fixed-price contract, tendered every three years.

Led by director of engineering Col Jim Foley, the effort to save money was spurred by increasing landfill charges in 2003/2004.

“That’s when we took the bull by the horns,” he said. Asked if changing the culture was the most difficult task, he replied: “Absolutely”.

The Defence Forces’ waste management campaign has involved the appointment of barracks waste management managers and teams, training of personnel and the installation of smart bins and compactor skips – and regular reminders.

Recycling is being extended to include composting for all kitchen waste in the nine largest barracks, including Cathal Brugha and McKee in Dublin and The Curragh. There are also annual inspections and awards – and “follow up action” in relation to poor performers.

Fair dues to the Defence Forces for their march on waste.

Limerick Milk Market was closed for a number of months for major refurbishment but has recently re-opened.

Here’s a quick tour of the new-look …

It is now an all-weather market with a fantastic new roof.

Country Choice from Nenagh run by Peter and Mary Ward have a great new stall at the market, as have Ponaire Coffee, Sallymills Artisan Cakes & Desserts and Fleur de Sel Crêperie.

Later a stop for coffee and to listen to some music at Mari’s Cheese Shop

Back to work

Here is a full list of shops and stalls and opening times.

Well worth a visit.