Teagasc
The Walsh Fellowship scheme offers graduates who have qualifications in agriculture, horticulture, food, agri-food economics or rural development and environment the opportunity to pursue further research and obtain a PhD or masters qualification.
Third-level institutions from Ireland, Britain and further afield submit project proposals to Teagasc seeking Walsh Fellows to conduct the research and Teagasc identifies research areas deserving priority and narrows the submissions down to a certain number that will go ahead.
Seventy-one Walsh Fellowships have commenced in Teagasc so far in 2014. An annual stipend, which is currently €22,000, is provided. This comprises of fees of up to a maximum of €6,000 per annum, while the remaining balance is the student’s maintenance allowance.
Additionally, there were 80 research positions created in Teagasc in 2014. These comprised of post-doctorate, contract research and a very small number of permanent positions.
Thirty technicians were also recruited and three people were taken on in administration, while 31 advisory/training positions were also filled in Teagasc this year.
Estimates for 2015 currently stand at 82 research and 30 advisory/training positions, while it is expected 27 technicians will be taken on, as well as three in administration. There will be a significant number of Walsh Fellowships available in 2015 also, but it is difficult to determine at this stage how many that will be.
FRS
During 2014, FRS ran a recruitment campaign which saw an extra 100 farm operators brought on board. With farmer expansion and the abolition of milk quotas, FRS predicts a similar increase in staffing throughout 2015.
The organisation plans to hold a recruitment drive in the new year, but welcome interested candidates to their careers page on www.frsnetwork.ie/careers at any stage to submit an application form.
Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture says it “continually reviews staffing levels in all areas of operation in the light of operational needs and overall Government policy on staffing levels”.
Eleven positions have been filled already this year and the Department is expected to recruit approximately four more by the end of the year. All are replacement positions.
With regards to opportunities in 2015, the Department says it is currently involved in a workforce planning process where the future staffing needs will be forecast for 2015-2017.
The workforce plan will take into account any potential changes in the nature of work carried out by the Department in the coming years which is likely to impact on the level of staffing required. The Department says that until that process has been completed, it can’t predict its level of recruitment for next year.
Bord Bia
There were 28 places available this year on the food marketing graduate programme run by IBEC’s export orientation programme (EOP) in conjunction with Bord Bia and DIT. This programme involves the placement of graduates in the overseas office of an Irish food or drinks company. The graduates are often responsible for sales and building the company’s presence in that market. The programme lasts 18 months and participants obtain a post-grad diploma with DIT.
In previous years, graduates have travelled to Toronto with Irish Country Meats, Helsinki with Bulmers, Paris with Bord Bia and New York with Walsh Whiskey. With regards to 2015, applications will open for at least 24 places in January. For more information, visit www.ibec.ie/eop.
The Bord Bia marketing fellowship is a year-long programme, which offers 20 candidates with a minimum of two years practical work experience as well as a primary degree, the combined opportunity of obtaining an MSc international marketing practice masters from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, while working on behalf of Irish food companies abroad.
Participants receive a bursary of €22,800 in addition to having their tuition fees paid. Applications will open in January 2015 for next year’s intake.
SouthWestern Auditing Services
SouthWestern is a data management partner for the agricultural industry – it engages with quality assurance schemes, information collection and processing on behalf of the agri-sector.
In its farm inspections auditing unit, 40 new auditors were brought on board in 2014, as well as 13 additional clerical staff (some of the clerical staff are job sharing) – that’s a total of 53 new people. Only one of those positions was a replacement position.
The company has approximately 80 auditors conducting Bord Bia audits at various locations around the country, as well as a further 20 staff working in-house in relation to the Bord Bia audits.
Based on the potential volume of work and growth in the sector, SouthWestern anticipates hiring approximately 30 people across the agri sector within the company in 2015.
FSAI
In late August, the position of CEO of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) was advertised. Approximately 10 other vacancies with the FSAI were also recently announced, ranging from IT manager to veterinary public health officer. As for 2015, the FSAI says that, like all Government agencies, they are not in a position to fill any vacancies due to the embargo on recruitment.
IFA
Five people were recruited to work in IFA in 2014. Two of these were new positions and three were replacement hires. Furthermore, two full-time permanent positions were filled in IFA Member Services in 2014 – both were replacement hires.
Irish Farmers Journal
As for the Irish Farmers Journal, headcount, at 80 people, has remained the same this year. However, there has been some changes in role profiles to reflect the changing strategy of the Journal. The Irish Farmers Journal expects headcount will stay broadly the same in 2015, although some recruitment is planned as the business continues to evolve. Four student placement vacancies will be filled in 2015 as part of a campaign that runs annually. The placements are particularly suited to students of agricultural science and journalism.
SHARING OPTIONS