NWRC Foodovation Centre

17/02/2026

📢𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲📢

Quality Irish Foods are looking for NPD Manager/Lead (€36k) to oversee the design, formulation, optimisation, and commercialisation of at least four new high-protein, nutrient-rish ready meal products from concept through to market launch, as part of the InterTradeIreland Innovation Boost Programme in partnership with North West Regional College.

⏰ Applications will close on Monday 9th March at 5pm.

ℹ️ For more details and to apply visit:
https://careerboost.intertradeireland.com/current-vacancies/quality-irish-foods-ltd

10/02/2026

🤔 Are you a micro or early-stage food and drink business based in a rural or tourism led area?

🤝 Gain hands-on innovation support to help address real-world challenges through Nourish & Innovate, a new pilot programme designed to support micro and early stage food and drink businesses.

⏰ Applications will close at 12pm on 27th February.

ℹ️ For more information and to apply visit: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wzs09So7-kSDw9UdCJU8j71c1QhfBNFLrumu6M69U79UQVAxR1Y3V1dWRFJGMzZLT0pXMFBVREVINyQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

06/02/2026

We were delighted to welcome hospitality students from our Limavady Campus to our Foodovation Centre where we showed them the process of how we bring food and drink products to market, from initial concept and creation to following guidelines and production.

A fantastic learning experience for the class! 👏🧑‍🍳

Hospitality students at our Limavady campus recently visited our Foodovation Centre to learn all about the process of bringing food and drink out to the market, from initial concept and creation to following guidelines and production.

A great experience for the class.

02/02/2026

PRISM Cluster Manager Rita O’Kane and Foodovation Manager Stella Graham attended the 5th Annual Sustainable Foods Conference in London.

Insights from retailers, farmers, DEFRA, and charities highlighted health, sustainability, food waste reduction, regenerative agriculture, and Scope 3 emissions.

Some great takeaways: “Our customers want food that’s affordable, healthier and better for the planet” (Ken Murphy Tesco), “Rapid progress on agricultural emissions is needed” (Emma Pinchbeck Climate Change Committee), NFU President Tom Bradshaw added, “We need to scale regenerative agriculture practices that work for farmers and meet sourcing commitments.” and “Health, nature & climate are hard commercial realities” (Henry Dimbleby).

What really stood out? Collaboration and innovation are essential to turn sustainability ambition into action across the supply chain, supporting farmers, tackling food waste, addressing Scope 3 emissions, and listening to the growing demand for healthier choices.

Excited to bring these insights back to our PEACEPLUS PRISM Agri-Food Cluster!

20/01/2026

🤔 Are you a micro or early-stage food and drink business based in a rural or tourism led area?

🤝 Gain hands-on innovation support to help address real-world challenges through Nourish & Innovate, a new pilot programme designed to support micro and early stage food and drink businesses.

ℹ️ For more information and to apply visit:
https://forms.office.com/e/0nTYGm5bJF?origin=QRCode

19/01/2026

𝐖𝐄’𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 – 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌!

🤔 Looking for an exciting new opportunity?

🔍 We’re looking for three PRISM Agri-Food Research & Innovation (R&I) Co-ordinators to join our team and work with the PRISM Agri-Food Cluster Manager and Foodovation Centre to drive the successful delivery of the PRISM (Powering Research & Innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing) programme.

The programme will provide support to a minimum of eight SMEs/companies within the Agri-Food sector.

🤝 In this role, you’ll provide targeted, research-led support to a number of SMEs/companies within the Agri-Food sector; helping them identify and implement low-carbon solutions, sustainable practices, and process or product innovations.

⏰ Applications will close on Tuesday 27th January at 12 noon.

🔗 Don’t miss out! Apply today: https://nwrc.getgotjobs.co.uk/registerJob/a18718bc-3a30-48ac-b163-533577ff58b7

16/01/2026

Over the past 18 months, NWRC Foodovation Centre Manager Stella Graham and North West Regional College XR Hub Manager Jim Murray have had the pleasure of supporting Zanna Cookhouse through the InterTradeIreland Innovation Boost programme.

It’s been truly inspiring to work with such an innovative and ambitious food company that fully embraced the Innovation Boost programme and achieved significant growth along the way.

This success is a real credit to Owen Mullins (Owner of Zanna Cookhouse) for his clear vision for the future, and to Christina Kabari, Project Manager, whose commitment, hard work and leadership helped drive the company forward throughout the journey.

With fantastic support from InterTradeIreland Innovation Boost Consultant Dominic Mullan, this collaboration has been an enriching experience. We’re excited to see what’s next for Zanna Cookhouse as they continue their growth journey and build on this momentum!

06/01/2026

𝐖𝐄’𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 – 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌!

🤔 Looking for an exciting new opportunity?

🔍 We’re looking for three PRISM Agri-Food Research & Innovation (R&I) Co-ordinators to join our team and work with the PRISM Agri-Food Cluster Manager and Foodovation Centre to drive the successful delivery of the PRISM (Powering Research & Innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing) programme.

The programme will provide support to a minimum of eight SMEs/companies within the Agri-Food sector.

🤝 In this role, you’ll provide targeted, research-led support to a number of SMEs/companies within the Agri-Food sector; helping them identify and implement low-carbon solutions, sustainable practices, and process or product innovations.

⏰ Applications will close on Tuesday 20th January at 12 noon.

🔗 Don’t miss out! Apply today:
https://nwrc.getgotjobs.co.uk/registerJob/a18718bc-3a30-48ac-b163-533577ff58b7

05/01/2026

🤔 Have you developed or reformulated a prepacked product with reduced calories, sugar, saturated fat or salt?

✅ Enter the Healthier Product Innovation Award at the 2026 Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards.

⏰ Applications will close on Monday 12th January.

🔗 Enter now by clicking the link in our bio!

05/01/2026

🤔 Have you developed or reformulated a prepacked product with reduced calories, sugar, saturated fat or salt?

✅ Enter the Healthier Product Innovation Award at the 2026 Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards.

⏰ Applications will close on Monday 12th January.

🔗 Enter now: https://nifda.co.uk/awards/

Give your business something to celebrate in 2026 – Enter the 2026 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards - Healthier Product Innovation Award

Are you a Northern Ireland food manufacturer that has reformulated or developed a new prepacked food product with reduced calories, sugars, saturated fat and/or salt?

Then why not enter the 2026 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards - Healthier Product Innovation Award https://nifda.co.uk/awards/ before the 12th January deadline, share your innovation and inspire others.

Discussing the award Sharon Gilmore, Head of Standards and Dietary Health, FSA said:

“The 2026 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards - Healthier Product Innovation Award is open to food and drink companies of all sizes, and entries are free of charge.

Businesses that submit an entry will be showcasing their innovation to an expert panel of judges. It is a great opportunity to inspire others and unlock new opportunities.”

Winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony hosted by BBC Northern Ireland presenter Mark Simpson on Friday 27th February 2026 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast.

The Healthier Product Innovation Award links to the NI Food Strategy Framework, a joined-up Government approach around food to deliver better outcomes for all in NI, this is also underpinned by the recently launched Healthy Futures Framework Obesity Strategy.

Picture Caption

Dr Anna Monaghan, NIFDA, Alastair Higgins, Invest NI and Sharon Gilmore, FSA, pictured at the launch of the award.

01/12/2025

𝐖𝐄'𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 - 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

🤔 Are you looking for a new challenge?

🔍 We are recruiting a Food Development/Technology Technical Consultant to join our Foodovation team at NWRC Limavady Campus.

🤝 The post holder will be responsible for developing relationships with businesses in the area of Food and identifying their requirements as well as providing upskilling support.

⏰ Applications will close on Wednesday 10th December at noon.

🛈 Apply Now ➡️ https://nwrc.getgotjobs.co.uk/registerJob/6e4afc5a-ab1f-41c4-b705-abf2069eda7e