Overseas roles for top graduates
SILVER Hill Farm in Monaghan recently announced that Otto Gourmet, the leading premium meat supplier to the Michelin starred chefs in Germany, is to distribute its award winning duck products.
The agreement is a big boost for the Emyvale company which is now planning to grow sales in retail and food service in Germany to more than €1 million in the next three years.
But it also underlines the vital role of the Bord Bia and UCD’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Marketing Fellowship Programme (MSc International Marketing Practice).
That’s because the deal was secured by Eavan Fallon from Blackrock in County Dublin, who joined the Bord Bia marketing fellowship programme last year and is based in Dusseldorf.
A graduate of Trinity College, with a degree in Medicinal Chemistry, she previously worked with Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard on the Jameson Graduate programme in Brussels and Zurich.
As well as Silver Hill Farm, she has worked on business development assignments for a range of products including Irish farmhouse cheese, Irish whiskey, and confectionery.
Stuart Steele, managing director, Silver Hill Farm, founded by his partents, Ronnie and Lyla, in 1962, said the company identified Germany as a key market to break into. He said it has been involved with the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship programme for the last number of years.
“This relationship has recently produced excellent results as is evident with this news from Otto Gourmet,” he said.
Eavan Fallon, urging others to apply for a Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship, speaks highly of the professionalism of the programme and its clients.
“The opportunities that come with the Fellowship are endless. You will gain experience working in four different sectors of the Irish food industry internationally, and are bound to meet some very interesting and influential people along the way,” she said.
Bord Bia has now launched a search for another 30 highly motivated professionals to represent the Irish food industry in overseas markets.
Applications are being sought for two scholarships combining academic learning with a foreign industry placement. They are the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship Programme (MSc International Marketing Practice), and the Origin Green Business Sustainability Programme (MSc in Business Sustainability).
The 12-month marketing fellowship gives hands-on experience with some of Ireland’s leading food companies while also gaining a Masters degree.
Applications are welcome from graduates with at least two to three years work experience and an interest in business development and sales. Some placements require fluency in a second language. The closing date for applications is March 5.
Successful applicants will undertake assignments in overseas markets on behalf of the participating Irish food and drink which have the potential to generate in excess of €20 million in sales over the next three years.
The two-year Origin Green programme aims to develop core expertise and understanding in the area of business sustainability specific to the Irish food and drink industry. Applications are welcome from individuals with five years of commercial experience in the food and drink or marketing sectors who hold a primary degree in business, science or languages.
They must have a keen interest in sustainability and business and some placements will require fluency in a second language. The closing date is April 2015.
This is the seventh year that Bord Bia and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have worked together on overseas programmes.
Over 150 participants have taken part, working towards a Masters qualification while completing over 600 business development projects on behalf of Irish food companies in 13 countries.
Michael Murphy, director of Markets, Bord Bia, said these programmes recruit high potential, ambitious, motivated professionals who have aspirations to become future leaders in the Irish food industry.
“This commitment, both to the Irish food industry and to furthering their own academic qualifications, has paid off with over 75% of past participants now employed in exciting positions in both Irish and international food companies,” said Michael Murphy.
Professor Damien McLoughlin, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, said the Irish food industry is thriving and they were delighted to be able to offer two Masters programmes which work in tandem with industry leaders to provide participants with an invaluable hands-on learning experience.
Testimonials from graduates who are already participating in the programmes have all been positive in terms of their professional carerrs and their individual lifestyle.
Linda Madigan, Ballyalla, Ennis, Co Clare, undertaking the marketing fellowship programme, based in Stockholm, said the highlight so far has been moving to the Nordic market and the hands-on learning this has entailed.
Living in somewhere as beautiful as Stockholm is an added bonus.
“Already I have had the opportunity to represent Irish companies at the Nordic Organic Fair in Malmo, getting in front of distributors and traveling in Sweden and Denmark to carry out market research and gain consumer insight, among other activities,” she said.
Atlanta-based Philip Cocoman, Kill, Co Kildare, participating in the business sustainbility programme, said it allows him to build an excellent network of people in the industry while offering a great variety of learning experiences.
