Bord Bia, through its Talent Academy, is now accepting applications for its 2023 postgraduate programme with up to 20 fully-funded places on offer. The programme includes a fully funded masters at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, a bursary, and a guaranteed work placement through the agency’s domestic and global network.
The Bord Bia Talent Academy was established to help identify and develop future executive talent for Ireland’s food, drink, and horticulture industry, as it looks to grow and diversify into new markets. Export market diversification has been ranked by the industry as its second-biggest focus as companies actively seek to expand into new markets in response to Brexit.
Sean Deane joined the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship in 2021 and is currently based in the Bord Bia New York office. Prior to joining the fellowship, he completed a double degree in global business and French from DCU and Neoma Business School in France. He then joined the Jameson Graduate Programme. After spending a year in Brussels, he moved to Cameroon in Central Africa, where he spent three years gaining experience in a developing market. He then moved to Ghana where he worked as a brand manager.
“Since joining the Bord Bia fellowship, I have gained incredible experience in one of the most diverse and fast-moving markets in the world," Mr Deane said. "My favourite part of the fellowship so far is working with Irish brands that I am extremely passionate about. Ireland produces some of the best food, drink, and horticulture products in the world. Also, the people I work with in the Bord Bia office, my client companies, and staff at UCD are some of the most experienced and helpful individuals I have ever met which has allowed me to develop my professional and personal competencies quickly.
"I would advise anyone who is considering applying to the fellowship programme to jump at it with both hands. The programme offers you the chance to gain experience in a variety of different sectors in some of Ireland’s most important international global markets.”
Michael Murphy, organisation and industry talent director with Bord Bia, added: “The Bord Bia Talent Academy programmes at UCD Smurfit Executive Development are a unique career development opportunity. The programmes combine in-class learning from the world’s leading food business experts with overseas food business experience. Action learning assignments are blended with academic and business education and training modules. Participants benefit from the strong emphasis on professional and career development. Most are now in excellent roles in the Irish food sector.”
The Talent Academy programmes, some of which have been running for over 10 years, attract a wide range of graduates across many disciplines and third-level colleges in Galway and across the country. “While our marketing fellowship is for graduates with a few years’ experience, overall, the range of programmes on offer ensures — and welcomes — participants with wide and diverse backgrounds, from hospitality to healthcare, event management to economics, agriculture to finance,” Mr Murphy added.
Successful applicants will be placed within a leading international food and drink company. Mars, McDonalds, Nestlé, Tesco and Unilever are some of the international companies that offer placements for Bord Bia’s Talent Academy in locations such as New York, Amsterdam, Madrid, Dubai, and Singapore.
“Fellows on the marketing fellowship will combine this dynamic, hands-on, experience with a fully-funded master’s qualification from UCD Smurfit School, with access to some of the world’s best food industry educators from business schools including Harvard, IMD, NYU Stern, and UCD Smurfit School,” said Mr Murphy.
“At Bord Bia, we know the right people in the right places make all the difference. That’s why we strongly encourage anyone with a passion for Irish food and drink and who is seeking a dynamic opportunity to apply – no matter your academic background or where you are in your career.”
How to apply
The marketing fellowship runs in partnership with the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and is intended for graduates with a few years’ work experience. Applications are now open for the marketing fellowship and can be made at www.smurfitschool.ie/executivedevelopment/programmes forindividuals/mscinternati onalmarketingpractice.
