Launch of Cavan’s Supply Chain, Logistics and Procurement Centre of Excellence

Ireland’s first ever Supply Chain, Logistics and Procurement Centre of Excellence (SCLPCE) was officially launched in Cavan Town recently.

Minister of State and the Department of Enterprise Niamh Smyth officially unveiled the plaque at the centre, which will give students the opportunity to gain qualifications in areas needed in warehouse operations such as safety management, sustainability reporting and leadership, sustainable supply chain procurement, inventory control and more.

It allows students to receive “realistic and safe warehouse training”, which Centre Manager Noel Mooney described as “paramount”.

“Critically, these programmes support learners at all stages of their career, from those entering the workforce for the first time to experienced professionals seeking some upskilling and re-training in these high demand areas.”

The centre itself is located within a warehouse and, upon stepping in, an end of line packaging machine is folding, packing, stamping and sealing packages, before a robot brings it to its destination on a shelf within the warehouse, ready for shipping. All of this takes place with the touch of one button, pressed by Minister Smyth. The live demonstration provides a sample of what students attending the centre can learn. They will have hands-on experience operating these machines, as well as other robotics equipment used within the warehouse operations sector.

“It’s giving learners valuable experience of modern automation and industry technologies,” Noel explained. Noel has plenty of experience having previously worked as a Warehouse and Shipping Manager with Abbotts in Cootehill.

While the centre was only officially opened recently, it delivered its first training course in 2024.

“Since then the centre has made a significant contribution to addressing the ongoing shortage of professional drivers, supporting learners to achieve approximately 600 new professional driving licences across rigid, articulated, bus and coach categories. This represents a major strengthening of the regional and national driver pipeline at a time of a skills shortage in the transport sector.”

Meanwhile, over 40 businesses have already availed of the facility. It delivered in excess of 35 programmes to more than 1,000 students last year.

Education robots

The centre is in the process of procuring another six education robots, which are used in the manufacturing sector. They also have two motion lorry simulators based at the Dublin Road FET campus across the road from the centre, which supports “high quality professional driver training”.

Mr Mooney said the centre “helps to identify” the current emerging skills and requirements in various industries and designs “flexible learning pathways” to meet needs identified by employers.

The 7,000 square foot facility has been refurbished into the purpose built environment for learning, including modern classrooms, offices, a canteen, and a specialised training area.

“It has been designed as a hands on logistics training hub, which closely reflects real operating environments found across the industry.”

The launch coincided with National Logistics and Supply Chain Skills week, and was established through the support of Enterprise Ireland through the Border Enterprise Development Fund.

During her launch speech, Minister Niamh Smyth praised the centre as the “first initiative of its kind” in the country.

“It is something that this county and this region can be enormously proud of,” she said, describing the centre as a “strategic asset” for the entire region and country.

Chief Executive Officer of CMETB Dr Fiona McGrath, who are the centre providers, said the facility “represents a major strengthening of our further education and training offering” in the areas of supply chain logistics and procurement.

“At its heart the centre is about opportunity, creating clear pathways into careers for learners, supporting employers to grow and innovate and strengthening resilience across the border region through the skills that keep goods and service and manufacturing moving.”