Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council will host a major Agri-Food Careers Fair on Tuesday 10 March 2026, from 10am to 2pm in Armagh City Hotel, bringing together leading employers from across the sector, showcasing live vacancies, skills pathways, and career opportunities for school leavers, students, and job seekers.
The event has been organised collaboratively between the Council’s award-winning Food Heartland initiative and the ABC Labour Market Partnership (LMP) which is funded by the Department for Communities. Labour Market Partnerships create targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
The ABC borough has one of the most significant rural populations in Northern Ireland, with agriculture at its core. In 2022, the Council launched its pioneering Agriculture Strategy, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, aimed at supporting farmers, agri-food businesses, and the next generation of agri‑industry professionals.
At this careers fair, attendees will be able to meet employers directly, learn more about sector roles, and access support from education and training providers.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Stephen Moutray said:
“Our Agriculture Strategy sets out a clear commitment to developing skills, training pathways and opportunities for new entrants across the agri‑food sector. This Agri‑Food Careers Fair is a fantastic example of that in action, bringing leading employers together with students and job seekers to explore careers in food manufacturing, processing, farming, science, hospitality and the wider supply chain.
“I’m also delighted to see strong representation from sector bodies and training providers, including CAFRE, AFBI and Southern Regional College, who will highlight the many routes into further education, apprenticeships and specialist agri‑food careers. This is an invaluable event for anyone considering their future in the industry and one not to be missed.”
The Careers Fair will include household names such as Avondale Foods, a major local producer of salads, soups and fresh convenience products, Gilfresh Produce who are a leading grower and supplier of fresh vegetables, and Banbridge based Rosies Bakes, renowned for their freshly baked buns, breads and cakes. Agri businesses such as Masons Animal Feed and JMW Farms will also be represented.
The Agri-Food Careers Fair is free to attend, with no registration required. To learn more about the work of the Labour Market Partnership and upcoming employment initiatives, visit: www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/lmp. To learn more about the work of the Food Heartland, visit www.foodheartland.com
