Co-op society urges more training

ENCOURAGING member co-ops to commit significant resources to the training of directors is a high priority for the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), according to its president Padraig Gibbons, speaking at the presentation of diplomas to 14 directors of dairy societies at their graduation ceremony in UCC.

He said the commitment shown by the farmer directors who had participated in the year-long UCC/ICOS diploma in corporate direction typified the work being done within the co-operative food sector to improve management capabilities at all levels.

Dairy farmers and their co-operatives were faced with unprecedented levels of change and competition in the domestic, European and global marketplace.