Bursary helps start-ups to defray costs of food production diploma

Food business start-ups can now avail of a near two-third fee support for UCC’s part-time diploma in specialty food production under a new Department of Agriculture bursary.

An initiative to boost professionalism in new food start-ups, eligible applicants may receive up to €1,800 each towards the diploma fee of €2,800. Places are still available, but the course organisers expect that this new funding will see places being taken up very quickly.

The diploma will be delivered again in UCC from October. This part-time diploma is for individuals who are starting or wish to further develop an artisan or specialty food business and also for farmers, smallholders, producers, retailers, chefs, and those in support agencies.

Two recent graduates received gold stars in the Great Taste Awards. Muriel Coughlan from Midleton, Co Cork won two gold stars for her gluten-free cookie dough Gookies; while Colin Markey of Bandon got a gold star for his sugar-free granola Hungry Hill Granola.

The diploma programme is a mix of lectures, practicals, workshops, assignment and site visits and is run on a part-time basis over one year — typically two days per week every three weeks.

For further information, contact Dr Angela Sheehan at the food industry training unit, College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, UCC.