Heineken Ireland brings back bar staff training programme

The Dutch brewing company said its 'Ahhh-cademy training programme' will take place over the course of October at locations in Cork, Dublin, and Galway

Heineken will run the course at its brewery in Cork at Lady's Well, Leitrim Street between October 12 and October 14.

Dutch brewing company Heineken has announced the return of its training programme for bar staff which is set to take place over the course of October at locations in Cork, Dublin, and Galway.

The company said its “Ahhh-cademy training programme”, which is being brought back for its third year, provides practical, “hands-on training to help Ireland’s bar staff deliver the quality, consistency and service that customers expect from a great pub experience”.

The programme will take place in the RDS Grand Hall in Dublin between October 5 and October 7, as well as at the Heineken Ireland brewery in Cork between October 12 and October 14, and at Galway's Dexcom Stadium between October 20 and October 21.

Commercial director at Heineken Ireland Jason Cox said “the pub remains one of Ireland's most important social spaces and the people who work within it are central to its success”.

“Through the Heineken® Ahhh-cademy, we are proud to support publicans and their teams across Ireland by providing practical training, sharing expertise and investing in the future of the industry."

This year sees the company’s investment in the initiative increase to almost €3m which will support an expanded programme for 2026, including dedicated courses for managers and trainers.

The company said the programme was originally created in response to a “changing hospitality landscape” following the pandemic.

“The Irish on-trade faced significant challenges around recruitment, retention, staff turnover and training. Many newer members of bar teams had fewer opportunities to learn the practical skills traditionally passed down through experience behind the bar,” Heineken Ireland said.

”At the same time, customer expectations continued to rise, with consumers highlighting quality, consistency, knowledgeable service and a positive experience being top of their pub or bar visit priority list.” 

President of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland Michael O’Donovan said the training programme “continues to provide a valuable opportunity for hospitality teams across Ireland”.

“It is a fantastic initiative that demonstrates the importance of investing in people and helping staff develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in today's changing industry.”