Graduate Trainee Programme

Add a Bit of Flavour to Your Foodie Career - A Plateful of Opportunities with Our Pilgrim’s Europe Graduate Trainee Programme.

Savor the Opportunity to Grow within Pilgrim’s Europe! Our Graduate Trainee Programme offers a flavourful mix of learning and development, designed to help you thrive in our dynamic and innovative global business.

With hands-on experience, Institute of Leadership and Management recognised training, and opportunities to work across various sites and functions, you’ll be well-equipped to carve out a successful career and become a future leader.

Programme Overview

Duration: 18 months.
Starting Month: September.
Rotations: Three 6-month rotations across your chosen discipline.
Functional Areas Available: Supply Chain; Procurement & Logistics; Operations & OpEx; Technical & Agri Technical; Commercial Sales & Marketing; Commercial New Product Development; Engineering; Sustainability; Finance; People, Culture & Experience; Agriculture; Exports & International Sales.

(You will be required to pick one area to focus one while on your programme so you can begin to build your industry knowledge).

What to Expect

Adaptability & Flexibility: Be prepared to travel and relocate across our 31 locations in NI, GB, and ROI.
Rotation 1 (Sep-Feb): Start with an in-depth introduction to our business.
Rotation 2 (Mar-Aug): Relocate to broaden your experience and deepen your understanding.
Final Rotation (Sep-Feb): Focus on leadership and operational excellence.

Our Programme Commitments

: Complete recognised training to become a resilient, well-rounded team member. We have partnered with an external provider to cultivate high performance in the most demanding situations. Through action learning sets and off site training you will be challenged and stretched to become the leader you would follow.
: We invest in your talent from day 1 and all we ask in return is that you bring a passion to learn and grow. You will be subject to annual pay reviews and you will be supported to offboard your programme into a role that meets your aspirations and skillsets.
: Receive personalised guidance to navigate your career path with senior leaders. We will wrap you in support with a solid internal community who will guide you every step of the way!
: You’ll be given the opportunity to build your network and travel right at the beginning of your career and we will offer you financial relocation support. With 31 sites across NI, GB and ROI there is plenty to see and experience.
: Work on high-impact projects with direct oversight from our executive team.
: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, awards, and networking events with recognised industry bodies.
: Celebrate your achievements with your cohort and the wider business.
: Contribute to important issues like sustainability and food security.
There will be endless opportunities for you to get involved, drive change and grow while also having fun and making lasting memories along the way!

Learn How to LEAD Yourself and Others

At Pilgrim’s Europe, we believe in “Learning Today, to Lead Tomorrow.” The best leaders never stop learning and our graduate programme is built on a well-defined leadership competency framework: LEADERS can:

Lead by Example & Inspire Others
Encourage Critical Thinking & Manage Change
Apply Determination & Grit
Deliver High Performance
Encourage Confidence in the Team
Recognise Individual Strengths
Strive for Operational Excellence

Why Join us?

High Performing Behavioural Skills:

Develop key competencies for personal & professional growth.

ILM Endorsement:

Gain recognition from a leading management body.

Mini MBA Opportunity:

We will continue to support you with professional development.

Passion for Food:

Work with products you love & share your passion with others.

Community & Culture:

Enjoy a collaborative & supportive work environment.

Prejoining Activities:

Engage in activities that prepare you to cook up success from day one alongside your peers.

Ready to Taste Success?

If you’re tenacious, agile, adaptable, and hungry to grow your career, Pilgrim’s Europe is the place for you. We recruit annually for this programme.

FAQs

: Submit Your Application: Complete the online application form on our website.
Initial Screening: Our team will review your application and shortlist candidates.
Telephone Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a telephone interview.
Assessment Centre: You will complete a 1 day assessment centre and be given the opportunity to connect with senior leaders across our business and experience first-hand what it is like to work in an award winning food business.
Final Selection: Successful candidates will be notified and offered a place on the programme which will start in September.
Please note: We have limited spaces available, so be quick to secure your spot!
: Educational Qualifications:
A degree-level qualification with a minimum of 2:2.
Recent graduates (within the last 5 years) are preferred.
Higher-level apprentices who have worked in food manufacturing and are keen to pursue their career are also encouraged to apply.
Work Experience:
Having completed work experience or a placement year in the food industry is desirable but not a necessity.
Personal Attributes:
Demonstrated leadership potential.
Ability to work effectively in a team.
High level of motivation and a proactive attitude.
Hungry and in a hurry to grow your career.
Desire and willingness to travel.
Additional Requirements:
A valid driver’s license.
Availability to start the programme on the specified date. (September)
You will be required to have a Right to Work in UK - Unfortunately, we do not offer sponsorship for this programme.

Success Stories

Our Graduate Trainee Programme has a proven track record of developing future leaders who make significant impacts in the food industry. Here are a few inspiring success stories from our alumni:

I joined the company graduate programme in 2013, and this gave me an opportunity to develop a fantastic career within my chosen field of Agriculture.

The breadth of experience, from hands on practical farm work through to retailer interaction and the commercials involved in a successful Agri-Food business has allowed me to progress to my current role. The business continues to invest in my learning and development, notably supporting me to complete a PhD and more recently giving the opportunity to travel the world to see other business units within the wider global Pilgrim’s business.

Doctor Aaron Mc Kenna

Head of Broilers Operations

I joined the graduate programme in 2016 after studying Business, specialising in Marketing.

My passion was always in consumer marketing but through great exposure to the wider commercial functions across the business, I developed a keen interest in commercial, moving to account management for a number of years before returning back to my roots.

Ashley Moran

Marketing & Category Director IOI

Follow Us on LinkedIn

We encourage you to follow us on LinkedIn to see real life examples of what our graduates have been up to and to get a feel for our business!

Programme Overview

What to Expect

Our Programme Commitments

Institute of Leadership Management Training

Permanent Contract & Competitive Salary

Career Coaching, Buddy Systems & Mentorship

Relocation Support

Executive Sponsored Projects

Conferences & Networking

End of Programme Celebrations

Sustainability and Impact