About Abbey Training Services

History

Abbey Training was established in 1992 in response to the growing need for Training and Development interventions and vocational programmes for public and private sector companies in the Northern Ireland. In 2001 Clare Gibson, the Managing Director, started exporting Abbey's services to the Middle East. Originally Oman, The United Arab Emirates and Qatar were investigated as potential markets. Since 2001 Abbey Training Services has delivered training to the Oil, Retail and Hospitality sectors in Qatar on various occasions. In 2002, Abbey Training secured its first contract in the Republic of Ireland and since then has successfully tendered for contracts with Fáilte Ireland, the Restaurants Association of Ireland and the Department for Transport.

Since 2004 we have been blending elements of e-learning into our programmes (by using low-tech solutions and outsourcers), then in 2005 we began building our own e-learning team to complement our existing team of professional educators. Now we are pleased to be able to offer a total solution, delivered by our approachable in-house team.

The main focus of the organisation is in the delivery of a range of bespoke training seminars for the public and private sectors in the Island of Ireland. Abbey also holds long term contracts with Fáilte Ireland, The Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Newtownabbey Borough Council. In addition to this Abbey Training Services have been selected as call off training providers for the Department of Transport, the Causeway Health and Social Services Trust and Fáilte Ireland. With an impressive list of client companies, Abbey's portfolio boasts vast experience in the delivery of Management, Personal Development and bespoke Interpersonal Skills seminars. Client companies include the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the Northern Ireland Court Service, Translink, South Eastern Education and Library Board, Sainsbury's Management Team and Qatar Petroleum - to name but a few.

Awards

Abbey Training was the first recognised training organisation in Northern Ireland to achieve the Investors in People standard and has since been re-accredited with the standard on three occasions. Two years ago the Company won the prestigious European Award for its own brand Welcome Europe Customer Care Programme - the only winner from Northern Ireland. The quality of this programme was further recognised by winning the Trade Partners UK award for 'Languages for Export'.

Abbey distinguishes itself from its competitors through the range and quality of its Trainers. Abbey's Trainers span a variety of training backgrounds drawing upon the knowledge and experience gained from public and private sector companies.