Bord Bia in Search of Ireland’s Next Generation of Food and Drink Leaders
12th September 2024
The industry has ranked export market diversification as its second-biggest focus as companies actively seek to expand into new markets in response to a period of significant flux, with climate change, inflation, geopolitical instability, and cost of living challenges all affecting the global economy and export performance.
The Bord Bia Talent Academy offers four individual programmes through corporate and academic partnerships across sales, marketing, sustainability, consumer insights, and innovation, and includes a variety of learning assignments and bursaries to support the post-graduates.
Applications are open for the Marketing Fellowship and International Graduate Programmes at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, with 20 and 35+ spaces available for each programme respectively.
Conor Heavey, Client Director, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, explained the benefits of the programmes on offer.
“The Bord Bia Talent Academy provides a unique learning opportunity that blends in-class learning from the world’s best food sector educators, in-market overseas learning assignments, and professional and career development coaching.
This blend accelerates the participants’ food industry expertise, with the vast majority retained in excellent roles post-programme.”
According to Karen Connaughton, Industry Talent Manager at Bord Bia, the potential opportunities for graduates in the industry are immense. “The value of Ireland’s food, drink, and horticulture exports reached almost €16.3 billion in 2023. This is 24% higher than the figures recorded pre-pandemic in 2019. This dynamic industry continuously requires new executive talent.
Over 80% of the alumni of the Marketing Fellowship are retained in relevant food industry roles upon graduating from the 18-month programme, reflecting the existing demand and opportunities for employment at home and abroad.
The Talent Academy programmes, some of which have been running for 15 years, attract a wide range of graduates across many disciplines and third-level colleges nationwide.
“The Marketing Fellowship is intended for graduates with a few years’ work experience; but overall, the range of programmes on offer welcomes participants with wide and diverse backgrounds, from hospitality to healthcare, event management to economics, farming to finance,” Connaughton added.
Successful applicants to the Marketing Fellowship Programme will be placed into one of Bord Bia’s many international locations – from New York to the Nordics – completing projects for Irish food and drink industry companies.
Eileen Bentley, Head of Industry Capability at Bord Bia commented, “Participants of the Marketing Fellowship and International Graduate programmes will combine dynamic, hands-on experience with a fully funded master’s qualification from UCD Smurfit Executive Development, with access to some of the world’s best food industry educators from business schools including Harvard, IMD, NYU Stern, and UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
This combination of academic learning and practical international experience provides an invaluable opportunity for ambitious individuals to become the next generation of leaders in Ireland’s food and drink industry.
From an industry viewpoint, Bord Bia’s Talent Academy secures future talent and delivers practical, immediate support to food and drink companies.
At Bord Bia, we believe having the right individuals in key roles is essential. Therefore, we invite anyone passionate about Irish food and drink, regardless of their educational background or career stage, to apply for these exciting opportunities.”
How to Apply:
Applications are now open and can be submitted through the Bord Bia Talent Academy website here>>
The Marketing Fellowship application deadline is September 23rd. The International Graduate Programme application deadline is the end of October.
