The MSD in Brinny
site, located a few miles from Innishannon, Co Cork has evolved over its 30
years there from traditional manufacturing to end-to-end process – now involved
in everything from development through to commercial supply, sales and
operations, planning and clinical manufacture.
A global leader in healthcare, MSD employs over 2,000
people across six separate sites in Ireland. With this in mind, an on-going
goal within the company is to find different ways of supporting its people to
make a difference.
As Brinny site lead Matt Corcoran puts it: “In
Brinny, the focus is not on a role or a job, but a career for life. Our ’Be
Well’ commitment extends to our team and their career journey with our
organisation.”
MSD encourages staff to take an active role in their
own career development, steering their own performance over time. This is facilitated
through a digital tool whereby employees have access to an online portal to
self assess their proficiency and identify what it takes to move forward in
terms of competencies and training.
“With the changing nature of both the pharmaceutical
industry itself and the increased complexity of the Brinny site, we have
formulated strong partnerships with third-level institutions over the past five
years in order to ensure our staff feel confident in their roles,” says
Corcoran.
“We have done a huge amount in conjunction with
Sligo Institute of Technology, Cork Institute of Technology and biosciences
research institute Nibrt to give people from across the site the opportunity to
up-skill.
“We have supported people in terms of time and
funding to undertake various different courses. Some people may have joined us
straight from school 30 years ago, while others might have joined with a
primary degree. About 300 people have gone through this process of continuous
development getting qualifications all the way up to master’s level. We have
also partnered with University of Limerick on leadership development
courses.
“This has all been hugely beneficial for the team
and the business as we collectively have much greater knowledge of the
processes and it has led to an overall better performance.”
A collective mindset across all sites
Employing 350 people, the Brinny site is MSD's
centre of excellence for the manufacture and quality assurance of its
biotechnology-based pharmaceutical products.
The other five sites are in Co Carlow, Ballydine, Co
Tipperary; Rathdrum, Co Wicklow; Swords and Leopardstown, Co Dublin. Over the
past two years alone, and with the support of each site, MSD has contributed
over €4m to support worthwhile and sustainable causes in Ireland.
“Each site is very strong but key to our
business is that sites support each other and the network becomes stronger as a
result” notes Corcoran.
Mirroring this strength in site sharing of knowledge
is an MSD corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Neighbour of
Choice (NOC) programme.
Through this programme MSD, across all its six sites
in Ireland, provides funding and support to projects that address the needs of
local communities.
“Through NOC, MSD is committed to improving the
health and wellbeing of the communities in which it operates, and with the help
of employees and local partners, supports projects that will make a real
difference now and into the future,” Corcoran explains.
In Cork for example, Brinny has engaged and
supported the local community in its site-led NOC programme by raising
much-needed funds for local charities and clubs such as the Bandon Rotary Club
and Marymount University Hospital & Hospice.
“Daffodil Day is a major event at MSD in Brinny –
last year we were the single largest fundraiser in the country, raising about
€14,000 through a range of different activities,” said Corcoran.
As at other MSD sites around the country, employees
visit local schools to give talks on science and give an insight into what
happens at the Brinny facility with the aim of encouraging young people to
pursue a career in science. In addition, around 70 volunteers from the site
took part in the Junior Achievement programme.
In recent years, MSD overall has become a leader in
corporate responsibility in Ireland through a focus on four priority areas –
access to health; environmental sustainability; employees; ethics and
transparency.
”Corporate responsibility is more than just words –
it is our collective mind-set here at site and across each site,” says
Corcoran.
Sorcha Corcoran
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