Students and Mentors welcomed to the 2022/2023 Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting

Hardware Association Ireland and Octabuild were delighted to welcome all incoming students and mentors to the 2022/2023 year of the Hardware Association Ireland Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting earlier this week. 

The nine-month long mentor-based programme is back for what will be another highly successful year. The programme is designed to equip those new to the hardware retail/builders merchanting sector, and those in need of more structured training, with a knowledge and skills base that will enable them to contribute to the business of their employer. It will also help employees build a career in the sector.

The Introductory Day, which took place at The Osprey Hotel on the 24th of August, gave incoming students and mentors the chance to meet the HAI team, sponsors Octabuild, represented by the group’s chairman Ray Molyneaux, and tutor Noel Davidson, and get key information about the year to come.

The morning started with a welcome from HAI CEO Martin Markey, who welcomed all and reinforced the benefit of the programme to the incoming students, based on the feedback from graduates. “Last year we sought feedback from students during their learnings, and the key trend in the responses was the ‘confidence’ gained by students through the new skills and knowledge they learned, particularly their confidence in performing their role, working with colleagues and liaising with customers.”, said Martin.

HAI CEO Martin Markey welcomes all.

Next Ray Molyneaux, Chairman of Octabuild – sponsors of the Certificate for the second year, welcomed all on behalf of Octabuild’s members (Dulux, Etex, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kingspan and Wavin), who will be working closely with students this year on Product Knowledge modules. He gave a highly motivating speech to all incoming students reminding them that they will get as much out of the programme as they will get in.

Octabuild Chairman talks to students and mentors about Octabuild’s Product Knowledge involvement in this year’s Certificate

Aoife Kinsella, the main contact for the Certificate for the year, was next to welcome all, and gave a brief presentation on the structure of the year. She reminded students and mentors the importance of keeping up with the assignments and modules, while reinforcing the benefit of the self-reflective structure of the mentor-based programme.

HAI’s Aoife Kinsella welcomes students and mentors, and explains the plans for the year.

Noel Davidson from the Entrepreneur’s Academy,  who will be presenting the Communication Skills and Team-Building and Team-Leading modules, then gave everyone a quick flavour of the learnings to come with a highly interactive team-building exercise involving paper airplanes.

Noel Davidson gives students and mentors a masterclass in team-work and team-leading.

Finally, HAI President Michael O’Donohoe officially declared the Certificate open, congratulating all students and mentors to take the step in their career to enrol in the programme.

The HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting will be commencing with its first module on Tuesday the 30th of August, but if you would like to enrol any places please contact Aoife Kinsella at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969.