Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council organised an agri-food careers fair on 10 March 2026 at the Armagh City Hotel. More than 200 attendees took part, including students from Banbridge Academy, St Patrick’s Grammar Armagh, Lurgan College, Dromore High School, St Patrick’s High School Keady and City of Armagh High School, plus school leavers and job seekers.

Local employers, training providers and sector bodies took part. Attendees met representatives to learn about vacancies, apprenticeships, further education and career paths in the sector. The event came from a partnership between the council's Food Heartland initiative and the ABC Labour Market Partnership, funded by the Department for Communities.

Alderman Stephen Moutray, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, said partnership working created a platform for people to explore opportunities and gain insights into agri-food careers. He noted strong engagement from CAFRE, AFBI and Southern Regional College in showing routes to learning, apprenticeships and roles.

Mrs McTernaghan, Head of Food and Nutrition at Lurgan College, said the event connected classroom learning to career paths. She reported that students found it valuable to hear about apprenticeships, qualifications and daily roles, with some expressing interest in specific organisations.

The borough has a significant rural population, where agriculture and agri-food contribute to the economy. The fair supports the council's Agriculture Strategy, launched in 2022. A follow-up agri-food fair is planned for next year, while the next Labour Market Partnership job fair occurs on 27 May at Millennium Court in Portadown.