Martin Smyth wins Bar Studies prize
The award recognises the student who achieves first place in the final year examinations on the BSc Honours degree in Bar Studies – Management and Entrepreneurship.
The four-year bar studies degree course is the first of its kind in the world and was designed to respond to the rapid changes taking place in the hospitality industry.
These days, ‘licensed premises’ include not only traditional pubs but also off-licences, gastro-pubs, microbreweries, bar-restaurants and nightclubs.
There has also been an increasing trend towards the development of public house groups and the subsequent development of more sophisticated management approaches including products, systems, human resources and marketing, contends the Chairman of the Bar Studies degree James Murphy who also cited the ‘internationalisation’ of the Irish pub abroad.
“These factors have helped drive the demand for managers and highly-trained staff with higher-level entrepreneurial skills and flair,” he stated.
Martin was congratulated at the ceremony by VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben and VFI President Noreen O’Sullivan.