BWG Foods has launched a pioneering new programme – titled NextGen Entrepreneurs – aimed at identifying and nurturing future leaders across Ireland’s retail sector.
The company – one of Ireland’s leading retail and wholesale groups – has developed the programme in partnership with Dublin City University (DCU) Business School.
It features specially designed education modules focused on enterprising leadership, retail management, financial management, marketing and technology transformation, and customer experience.
The programme also includes one-to-one mentoring with current retail industry entrepreneurs and senior leaders from BWG Foods.
Another key element of the programme is peer-to-peer networking, which includes international look-and-learn experiences, aimed at nurturing a culture of retail innovation.
Independent Retailers
Over 300,000 people work across Ireland’s retail sector, with a significant proportion of them employed in family businesses, predominantly independently owned grocery businesses.
Family businesses represent approximately 64% of all firms in Ireland, contributing close to 50% of Ireland’s GDP.
Pathways for career progression with high-earning potential in the retail sector are typically more limited in the retail sphere than in other industries in Ireland, however, the entrepreneurship model through business ownership provides viable opportunities for retail employees to reach higher career goals.
This new programme aims to enable more entrepreneurial workers to expand their career potential, and thus nurture Ireland’s ecosystem of independently owned family businesses.
The first year’s programme is fully subscribed, with 30 students participating, and BWG Foods has already received applications for next year’s programme.
‘Next Generation Of Retail Leaders’
Commenting on the programme, the chief people officer at BWG Foods, Peter Donohoe, said, “Much of Ireland’s great entrepreneurial talent is currently being absorbed into larger international corporates, with most young workers not recognising the exciting and lucrative opportunities that exist across retail leadership.
“This programme aims to identify, enable and nurture high-potential individuals who, with our support, will go on to become Ireland’s next generation of retail leaders.
“Our ambition, as part of this important initiative, is to help create a robust pipeline of talented entrepreneurs who have the skills and capacity to sustain the long-term viability of independent retailing in Ireland, ensuring that locally owned businesses can compete with global corporations.”
In applications, BWG Foods sought candidates with a strong growth mindset, a great innovation focus, and a high risk appetite, recognising the need for independent business owners to become more future focused and proactive, to compete with global corporations.
Donohoe continued, “Ireland has benefitted greatly from the incalculable contributions of international businesses to our economy, however, with SMEs struggling to navigate an environment that naturally benefits larger companies, due to the burden of costs and regulatory compliance, it’s critical that the next government explores the meaningful opportunities to encourage and support independent business ownership, so that family businesses remain a key feature of our domestic economy long into the future.”
