Stryker Launches Its Tullagreen Training Centre of Excellence to Help Employees Prepare for the Future of Work

Stryker, a global leader in medical technologies, has announced the launch of its Training Centre of Excellence, a new initiative that will help upskill employees, enhance leadership capabilities and foster manufacturing excellence at the company’s facility in Tullagreen, Co. Cork.

The three-year training initiative, developed with the support of IDA Ireland, will equip employees at Stryker’s Tullagreen facility with the agility and skills for the future of work, promote innovative thinking, embed a culture of continuous improvement, and advance sustainability. This comes as the World Economic Forum estimates that six in 10 workers globally will require training before 2027 due to the changing nature of work and pace of technological change.

Stryker’s new Training Centre of Excellence in Tullagreen will feature a workforce transformation programme focused on upskilling and reskilling employees in every function of the business. This includes a focus on lean management and continuous improvement. Leaders at the facility will be provided with bespoke training to further enhance their agility and ability to develop high-performing teams.  In addition, digital and automation engineers will train employees across the site on advanced technologies such as AI and how they can be harnessed to advance innovation and product development.

The Training Centre of Excellence will also allow employees to pursue a range of courses and bespoke courses in Environmental Sustainability Awareness. The training programme will promote awareness and drive sustainability initiatives for Tullagreen.

Speaking on the launch, Ian Corkey, Site Lead at Tullagreen Stryker in Ireland, said: “The launch of Stryker’s Training Centre of Excellence in Tullagreen represents a significant step in our journey toward operational excellence and propelling innovation forward. By investing in our people and their skills, we can ensure that they thrive in a rapidly changing world and foster a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.

“This new initiative will help future-proof our investment in our Tullagreen facility and strengthen our team’s ability to develop cutting-edge products that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes long into the future. The Tullagreen Training Centre of Excellence will also serve as a lighthouse for other Stryker sites across Ireland. We are grateful to IDA Ireland for their invaluable support in bringing this initiative to life.”

Rachel Shelly, Global Head of Life Sciences at IDA Ireland added:

“IDA Ireland welcomes the launch of Stryker’s Training Centre of Excellence and is delighted to be partnering with Stryker on this important investment in its workforce. Stryker’s mission is to make healthcare better. This is driven by the company’s focus on innovation and performance, delivered through its world class team here in Ireland. The centre exemplifies the company’s commitment to talent as an enabler for excellence in healthcare technology; and reinforces Ireland’s role as a key partner for global MedTech companies.

The launch of Stryker’s Tullagreen Training Centre of Excellence builds on the company’s annual apprenticeship programme as it reinforces its leadership in advanced manufacturing.

Stryker first established a presence in Tullagreen in 1998 with an initial team of 20 employees. Over the past 26 years, the facility has expanded and evolved with employees now focused on manufacturing medical implants for joint replacement, spine and trauma and extremities which are positively impacting patients across the world.