BORD BIA IS seeking candidates to apply for the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship programme, a €1 million annual initiative that sends graduates to work with Irish food businesses overseas.

The Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship Programme is run in association with the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and sees 25 people offered places on a year-long enhancement programme. They work on behalf of Irish food companies in overseas markets while completing an MSc International Marketing Practice.

The closing deadline for applications is Monday 4 March 2013 and 25 professionals will be appointed as fellows.

Graduates

The programme is open to all graduates with at least three years’ work experience and an interest in business development and sales, and Bord Bia invests €1 million in the annual programme.

The successful candidates complete up to 100 business development projects on behalf of a range of Irish food companies in overseas markets. According to Bord Bia, a review of Irish food and drink companies that have been involved in the programme over the last number of years has indicated that the activities of Fellows contributed to additional sales in the region of €30million over three years.

This is the fifth year of the programme and to date more than 100 fellows have been recruited. They have completed more than 400 business development and market research projects for client companies in international markets.

Michael Murphy, Director of Markets Bord Bia said:

It is worth noting that more than 80 per cent of past Fellows have gone on to secure jobs within the industry both in Ireland and overseas, many of whom are sure to become future leaders in Ireland’s largest indigenous industry.

The 2012-2013 programme is still underway, with 25 Fellows currently based in UK, USA, United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, China, Scandinavia, Holland, Australia, Spain, Italy, India, Russia and Poland.

Current Fellow, John Kieran from Meath, is based in Dubai. He described the experience as “both the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life to date”.

I have developed practical skills in establishing new export markets and have gained expert local knowledge and a network of contacts in the diverse and fast growing Middle East Region. In conjunction with this the academic aspect of the programme is furnishing me with marketing and innovation insights that I hope will help me to develop a career in the Irish food industry and contribute to its long-term growth.

Read: Use of Irish produce in restaurants important to 69% of people – survey>

Read: Record €9 billion food and beverage exports in 2012 – Bord Bia report>

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