Seven Gaelic Players Association (GPA) hurlers and footballers received a Diploma in Professional Selling from Business Training Solutions International (BTSI) after completing a 40 week training period.
The students completed a series of lessons based online and in a classroom. Their studies were sponsored by the insurance company Zurich.
CEO of the GPA, Dessie Farrell, congratulated the graduates and thanked Zurich for their support of what he called a “most beneficial programme”. He also highlighted the significance of the degree programme. “Sales is an important area to county players in their professional development, as it allows them to harness their profile directly.”
Zurich’s Director of Broker Distribution, Conor Brennan, made comparisons between the worlds of sport and sales. “You have to prepare, practice and perform with consistency to ensure continuous improvement”.
He commented on how pleased the company was to be involved with the partnership, and to continue their association with DCU and BTSI.
Brennan also remarked on the players themselves. “As a business, Zurich places a strong emphasis on professionalism in selling and therefore has been delighted to work with the GPA to support the professional development of such high quality players in Gaelic football.”
The graduation ceremony was hosted by DCU’s Ryan Academy in partnership with BTSI. The Ryan Academy offers internationally recognised programmes designed to improve sales team performance and sales management proficiency within organisations.
Previous BTSI graduates have gone on to manage companies such as Coca Cola, Zurich, One4all.ie, UPC and Bupa Ireland.
The participants were Eamon Fennell, Barry Cahill, Ross McConnell, Paul Casey, all from Dublin, Louth’s Darren Clarke, Wayne Hutchinson from Waterford, and Wicklow’s Dean Siney.
Aoife Bennett
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