BWG Foods launches NextGen Entrepreneurs programme to shape Ireland’s retail future
In partnership with DCU Business School, the programme delivers modules in leadership, retail, finance, marketing, technology, and customer experience
Print8 January 2025
BWG Foods, one of Ireland’s leading retail and wholesale groups, has launched a pioneering new programme, entitled NextGen Entrepreneurs, aimed at identifying and nurturing future leaders across Ireland’s retail sector.
The programme has been developed in partnership with Dublin City University (DCU) Business School featuring specially designed education modules focused on enterprising leadership, retail management, financial management, marketing, technology transformation and customer experience.
The programme also includes one-to-one mentoring with current retail industry entrepreneurs and senior BWG Foods leaders. A key element of this programme is peer-to-peer networking that includes international look and learn experiences aimed at nurturing a culture of retail innovation.
More than 300,000 people are employed across Ireland’s retail sector, with a significant proportion of these employed in family businesses, predominantly independently owned grocery businesses.
Family businesses represent approximately 64 percent of all firms in Ireland, contributing close to 50 percent of Ireland’s GDP.
Career progression
Pathways for career progression with high earning potential in the retail sector are typically more limited versus other industries in Ireland, however, the model of entrepreneurship through business ownership provides viable opportunities for retail employees to reach higher career goals.
This new programme from BWG Foods is intended to enable more entrepreneurial retail workers to expand their career potential and to nurture Ireland’s eco-system of independently owned family businesses.
The first year’s programme is fully subscribed, with 30 next generation entrepreneurs participating, and BWG Foods has already received applications for next year’s programme.
“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,” said Peter Donohoe, chief people officer, BWG Foods.
This programme aims to identify, enable and nurture high potential individuals who, with BWG’s 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 corporates,” noted Donohoe.
Future focussed
In assessing applications for the programme, BWG Foods sought candidates that possessed a stronger growth mindset, greater innovation focus and higher risk appetite when compared with existing retail leaders across the sector, recognising the need for independent business owners to become more future focussed and proactive when competing with global corporates.
BWG Foods also believes that the next Government must prioritise additional supports to ensure that Ireland’s independent businesses, mostly family-owned businesses, remain competitive into the future.
“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 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,” concluded Donohoe.
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