Want to know more about our support?
About the Graduate to Export programme
Are you interested in undertaking a fully funded postgraduate diploma while working for a Northern Ireland company and getting paid?
Invest Northern Ireland’s Graduate to Export programme might be what you are looking for.
For the first six months of this 18-month programme, you will work with your company in Northern Ireland. This will let you get to know their business and understand their products and services firsthand. During this time you will learn about the business’ strategy and direction.
You will then spend up to 12 months in an export market identifying market opportunities and carrying out market research to assist with your company’s export development plan.
How can I benefit from the Graduate to Export programme?
Benefits of the Graduate to Export programme include:
- The opportunity to kick-start your career in international business
- Experience of working and living in international markets
- A fully funded postgraduate diploma in International Marketing
Who can apply for the Graduate to Export programme?
Graduate to Export is open to graduates who have:
- A pass Batchelor's degree in any discipline
- Graduated in the last five years
- Pre-existing legal status to live and work in Northern Ireland
- A willingness to spend considerable time outside Northern Ireland*
*Foreign language skills are desirable, but not essential.
How to apply
For further information on the programme and application assistance, you can download our Graduate to Export | Guidance Notes for Graduates (PDF).
Participating businesses and job opportunities are listed below. Please click each company listing to apply or contact the company directly if you have any queries.
Participating businesses
Dowds Group (Construction)
Dowds are a progressive engineering specialist, delivering expert Building Services, project management and design-led consultancy. At the heart of everything we do are our people and our clients, we integrate design, decarbonisation, facilities management, and life cycle modelling to create sustainable, high-performing infrastructure serving a Tier 1 client-base.
Lusso Tan (Life and health sciences)
Lusso Tan is an award-winning self-tanning brand based in Northern Ireland, co-founded by three sisters with a background in professional beauty. Our mission is to combine skincare and tanning in one, delivering glowing, healthy skin through our range of vegan, cruelty-free products. Lusso Tan is stocked in premium retailers and salons and is now entering a new phase of international expansion.
Express Merchants Ltd. (Materials handling)
Express Merchants is a digital procurement platform helping facilities management companies streamline their tail spend. Our app, Breeze, connects clients to a vast supplier network, prioritising speed, sustainability, and simplicity.
Triex Ltd. (Construction)
Triex is a power and electrical contractor specialising in the renewable sector. Based in Coleraine, we deliver projects across the UK, Ireland, and Europe, including BESS, windfarms, substations, and more. Our dedicated team drives our success, upholding our core values and vision on every site we complete.
Hurst Engineering Services Ltd. (Advanced manufacturing and engineering)
Hurst Engineering is a fast-growing Northern Ireland firm delivering bespoke recycling and waste recovery systems across the UK and Australia. We specialise in modular, high-performance solutions designed for rapid deployment in complex environments. Our in-house team leads on design, integration, and delivery for both public and private infrastructure projects.
FM Environmental Ltd. (Construction, products and materials)
The FM Environmental Group, incorporating its Malta and US offices, is one of Ireland's longest established water and wastewater engineering companies. With a history going back to the early 1970’s, FM Environmental is internationally recognised for providing design, manufacture, installation and servicing of pumping, wastewater treatment and grease management equipment.
Precision Switchgear & Controls Ltd. (Electrical and electronic engineering)
Precision Switchgear & Controls have been a key presence in the electrical industry since 2012, specialising in the design and manufacture of high-quality LV Switchgear. We've built a strong reputation across the UK, Ireland, and globally through quality systems and export success in the electrical industry.
Mackle Petfoods (Animal feeds and products)
Mackle Petfoods is an award winning, BRC Grade A* certified family company, which has been manufacturing high quality dog and cat food for over 50 years. Benefiting from multi-million-pound investment the company produces over 70 million cans, 40 million trays and 25 million pouches annually in trusted Brandy, Cat Club and Naturo brands.
Rapid International Limited (Materials handling)
Rapid International Ltd, is a leading manufacturer of high-performance concrete mixers and batching plants. Serving global markets since 1969, Rapid delivers innovative, reliable, and sustainable mixing solutions for the construction, civil engineering, and environmental sectors, with a strong focus on engineering excellence and customer support.
Taka Sports (Digital and creative technologies)
Taka is a leading soccer performance and video highlights platform. Trusted by 50,000+ athletes, coaches, and 1,500+ college recruiters including partners like MLS and US Youth Soccer. Through analysis of 26,000+ games, Taka powers player development, talent ID, and engagement through cutting-edge tools and insights.
Apex Fastening Solutions Limited (Materials handling)
Apex is a leading supplier of fasteners, fixings and bespoke parts servicing the engineering and construction industries and specialising in JIT stock management systems. Apex have ambitious growth plans and would like to recruit a Graduate Business Development person to help develop Apex’s significant export opportunity in the Republic of Ireland.
Cirdan Imaging Ltd. (Medical devices and products)
Cirdan is a global digital health company enhancing diagnostic workflows in pathology. Our scalable LIS, AI-driven tools, and advanced imaging systems support efficient specimen processing, reporting, and malignancy detection. With operations across six continents, we serve over 100 labs globally, helping clinicians deliver faster, more accurate care to patients worldwide.
Belfast Distillery Company Ltd. (Agri-food)
Belfast Distillery Company, the venture behind McConnell’s Irish Whisky, was established with a single goal: Restoring the Legend.
We have triumphantly revived McConnell’s, a brand that dates to 1776 and which is once again finding great success in the domestic market and around the globe.
John J Doyle Ltd. (Construction)
John J Doyle is a leading distributor of advanced flue and chimney systems, specialising in solutions for power generation, data centres, and SCR technology. We provide industry-leading products and services, prioritising safety, compliance, and efficiency for critical industrial applications.
Valpar Micro Matic Ltd. (Advanced materials and polymers)
Valpar Micro Matic, part of Micro Matic Group, is the international, innovative leader in the manufacturing of high-quality tubing, dispense systems and related products. From the keg to the glass, we meet the needs of our worldwide customers, who include Diageo, Heineken, Coca Cola, Carlsberg, AB-Inbev, Britvic, McDonalds, San Miguel, and Pepsi.
Seating Matters (Medical devices & products)
Seating Matters specialises in clinically designed therapeutic seating solutions, enhancing postural support, pressure management, and safety for patients with complex needs. Our innovative chairs, developed with clinical and caregiver input, improve comfort and care across healthcare settings, supporting patients from critical care to rehabilitation and long-term care.
DELI LITES (Agri-food)
DELI LITES is a leading, food-on-the-move solutions provider. Inspired by the New York deli scene, DELI LITES has been offering award-winning food-on-the-move products for over 25 years.
The company is the world’s first B-corp certified sandwich manufacturer and exports internationally with a vision of bringing the best Irish food products to the global market.
Discover more
Here from Luke Johnston, Digital Marketing Lead on how his participation in the Graduate to Export programme lead to new opportunities and a permanent position at Allsop.
Contact us
If you are interested in Graduate to Export programme support, contact our Business Support Team on 0800 181 4422 or complete the enquiry form.
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