A total of 11 staff from Robinson's Fresh Foods were presented with certificates at a ceremony on March 5 after becoming the first group to complete the college's Management Insight course.

They were all young members of the management team and prospective managers and director John Horsthuis said the three hours a week spent on the 10-week course had proved very beneficial.

'It was very much hands-on guidance, tailored to working in the real world, and looking at how to implement the practices and controls we have to have in place in business these days,' he said.

'As they take on more responsibility, we wanted to ensure they got the training to handle that responsibility.'

Mr Horsthuis said it was important that the course was genuinely useful and not just something that 'ticked the boxes'.

Management Insight is aimed at the retail and hospitality sectors to develop practical management and supervisory skills in areas such as customer care, recruitment and retention, motivation, appraisals.

It is designed to follow on from the Manx Welcome programme, which taught those working in shops, hotels and restaurants basic skills in areas such as health and safety, hygiene and customer care.

Isle of Man College's training and business development manager Paul Murphy said: 'Each participant developed their own, unique skills appropriate to their own work area, while implementing the Robinson's Fresh Foods ethos.'

Companies interested in a bespoke, in-house Management Insight course should contact Carole Collister on 648345 or email carole.collister@college.doe.gov.im or Paul Murphy at paul.murphy@iomcollege.ac.im