Applications are now open for the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship and Origin Green Ambassador programmes which aim to find future food and drink industry leaders.

These talent development programmes are run in conjunction with the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and serve to support the growth of the Irish food, drink and horticultural industry on a global scale.

Both Bord Bia and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School will begin the search for 30 professionals who can demonstrate the aptitude, ambition and drive to become future leaders in Ireland’s thriving food industry.

Successful applicants will work alongside leading Irish and International food, drink and horticultural brands in overseas markets while honing their strategic business development, marketing and business sustainability skills.

Tuition fees will be fully paid to successful applicants of both programmes in addition to receiving a bursary towards living expenses.

These programmes serve to pick out and improve the brightest talents in the hope that they will drive the sector in the future, according to Bord Bia’s Director of Markets, Padraig Brennan.

“The future of the Irish food and drink industry is reliant on continuing to drive growth of Irish food exports around the world while developing a thorough and robust strategy to address the challenge presented by climate change.

“Through these two programmes, we are able to identify and nurture some of the smartest, most energetic and ambitious individuals and equip them with the necessary skills in these key areas.

Successful applicants undergo an intensive selection process to ensure that we chose the very best talent available to lead our industry into the future.

Details of the Programmes

The Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship Programme (MSc International Marketing Practice) begins in June 2017 and is recruiting a total of 20 individuals.

Bord Bia

L-R: David Hagan, Origin Green Ambassador, Italy, Etain Doherty, Bord Bia Marketing Fellow, New York and Owen Keogh, Origin Green Ambassador, UK.

The 18-month action learning programme involves carrying out commercial assignments on behalf of Irish food, drink and horticultural companies in 12 key international markets.

Throughout the year any classroom based taught modules and skills training and development will take place in UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

Meanwhile, the Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassador Programme (Msc Business Sustainability) commences in September 2017 and is recruiting 10 individuals for key placements with the world’s leading organisations.

This programme will last for two years and allows participants to gain in-depth knowledge of the emerging issues in business sustainability.

The programme will also provide the participants with the key skills necessary to integrate these issues so that a genuine, realistic and practical sustainability agenda can be created within the organisation.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Food Wise 2025 has set a target for food and drink exports to reach €19 billion by 2025, Professor Damien McLoughlin said.

Professor McLoughlin is the Academic Programme Director at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

We aim to recruit high potential, ambitious, motivated professionals who have aspirations to become future leaders in the Irish food industry.

“The programmes have a proven track record in terms of providing a unique learning opportunity in which academic attainment and high-level industry experience mutually support each other,” he said.

Anyone interested in applying or looking for for further information on both programmes can visit the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School’s website.