James Whelan Butchers, one of Ireland’s most respected family-run food businesses, is proud to announce the launch of a ground-breaking three-year graduate programme designed to nurture a new generation of leaders in food, retail, and sustainable food systems.
Participants will embark on a transformative journey, combining hands-on experience in James Whelan Butchers’ award-winning stores whilst simultaneously studying at Munster Technological University (MTU). Over the course of three years, they will gain real-world retail and butchery skills, receive structured leadership development, and explore the future of food through a sustainability-focused lens.
Pat Whelan, CEO of James Whelan Butchers said: “This is about investing in people, the future leaders of our craft, our business, and our industry. At James Whelan Butchers, knowledge is not written in books or locked away in classrooms. It is lived every day, shared from one generation to the next. Now, through the James Whelan Graduate Programme, we are opening this knowledge to a new generation. We have a global ambition to attract the best expertise in Ireland and around the world. We don’t just graduate students, we develop ethical leaders with the skills and values to make a difference and lead with integrity.”
Learning by Doing, Leading with Purpose
The James Whelan Graduate programme is open to current team members, graduates and new applicants with a Level 6 qualification or relevant work/life experience. Participants will take part in a structured interview process and if successful, will progress through a number of structured stages, including:
Year 1 – Living the Culture: Participants will step into the heartbeat of James Whelan Butchers where they will inherit generations of expertise through hands-on training in butchery, food handling, and customer service.
Year 2 – Building Knowledge and Skills: This is where craft meets innovation, as participants begin the BA in Sustainable Butchery and Gastronomy at MTU. In addition, through immersive residential blocks, they will step beyond routine to learn alongside industry professionals, exchanging ideas and accelerating their growth in ways the classroom alone cannot offer.
Year 3 – Leading with Vision: In their final year, participants explore the wider food landscape; applying financial insight, understanding regenerative supply chains, and discovering how responsibility and profitability align.
Core Benefits
By graduation, participants will hold a rare combination of academic qualifications, workplace expertise, and leadership skills; a mix highly sought after across the agri-food and retail sectors.
The programme supports meaningful career development through a holistic approach that values both professional and personal growth. With a starting salary of €36,000, progressive pay increases, paid study leave, and benefits including staff discounts and a pension, James Whelan Butchers is dedicated to creating an environment where people can thrive.
Since the 1960’s, James Whelan Butchers has built its reputation on quality and service. This new pathway is a natural extension of that legacy, ensuring the knowledge, craft, and values of the business are passed on to the next generation of food leaders.
Pat Whelan added; " The James Whelan Graduate Programme is more than a qualification. It is a celebration of craft, culture, and conscience. It is a launchpad that empowers you to create, lead, and shape the future of food, business, and leadership. This is a global first for the sector and one we are immensely proud to deliver.”
Applications are now open for The James Whelan Graduate Programme until the 1st December at 5.00pm. Full details and application guidelines are available at https://www.jameswhelanbutchers.com/info/careers/graduate-programme/
