The InterTradeIreland Acumen Graduate of the Year Award
The InterTradeIreland Acumen programme offers companies a unique opportunity to build upon home successes by breaking into the cross-border market. Exporting is big business, particularly on an island where in 2009 total North/South trade in Manufacturing amounted to €2.672 billion/ £2.378 billion.
For small and micro businesses that are taking their first steps in export markets, the cross-border market is very important and is often the first step to international exporting. To date Acumen has helped over 300 companies from across the island become exporters for the first time helping them to generate over €58m / £50m worth of sales.
In 2009 the graduate element to the programme was introduced - with great success! Working with graduates has brought an additional facet to the programme offering companies an opportunity to employ a graduate in a dedicated sales resource capacity whilst providing the graduate with a unique opportunity to not only gain hands on practical experience but to further their professional qualifications with a Postgraduate Diploma in Sales and Marketing.
InterTradeIreland presents the InterTradeIreland Acumen Award annually in recognition of the graduate who has achieved the highest academic score in the Postgraduate Diploma.
Dennis Carpenter - 2011 - Winner of the Graduate of the Year Award
Denis Carpenter was named InterTradeIreland Acumen graduate of the Year for his work with Carlow based Adesco Nutricines, a supplier of leading products and services to the agri sector. Through Acumen, Denis undertook a cross-border sales project with the firm to increase sales performance inNorthern Ireland which generated over €250,000 in new export sales.
“Working with an innovative company like Adesco to help develop their business has been an invaluable experience. Through Acumen, I was able to identify new markets and customers in Northern Ireland which have generated new sales for Adesco and impacted the bottom line. I was also supported to complete a fully-funded post graduate diploma in sales management with the UCD Michael Smurfit Business School and continue my professional development. I have since been offered a permanent position with the company and am delighted to now receive the InterTradeIreland Acumen Graduate of the Year Award!”
