Cork firm invests €6m to upskill staff and upgrade Little Island facility

Little Island-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Cara Partners has announced a new €6m programme aimed at upskilling employees and supporting a step change in capability at its Cork facility.

The training and development initiative will run over three years, enhancing multi product capability, strengthening technical and operational skills, and building leadership and change management capacity to support continued growth.

Cara Partners has operated in Little Island since 1978 and forms part of the Schwabe Group, headquartered in Karlsruhe in Germany, and a global provider of natural health solutions including plant-based medicines.

Training will be delivered in collaboration with a range of academic and professional partners, including the Irish Management Institute, IBEC Academy, University College Cork, Munster Technological University, Irish Manufacturing Research, Trinity College Dublin and Skillnet.

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said Cara Partners commitment to upskilling and leadership development “strengthens the capability of its Cork site and underpins its future growth in the region.” 

 Minister of state Jerry Buttimer said that by investing in structured, high quality training, Cara Partners is helping to ensure that valuable skills are developed and retained locally.