Loughry Campus celebrates the future leaders of Northern Ireland’s food industry

Jessica Gregg from Glarryford graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Food Business Management at the CAFRE Graduation Ceremony. Jessica has secured employment within the Procurement team at Dale Farm.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements of its Higher Education Food students at a graduation ceremony held at Greenmount Campus, Antrim.

Students from Loughry Campus in Cookstown were joined by family, friends, and faculty to mark the culmination of their academic journeys in disciplines central to Northern Ireland’s thriving food and agri-food industry.

This year’s graduates completed programmes in Food Technology, Food Innovation and Nutrition, Food Business Management, and Food Manufacture — courses designed to prepare them for key roles within one of the region’s most vital sectors.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Fintan McCann, Head of Food Education at Loughry Campus, praised the cohort’s dedication and resilience:

“We are incredibly proud of our students. Their dedication, creativity, and flexibility have been outstanding. They leave Loughry Campus not only with academic qualifications but with real-world experience and a deep understanding of the food supply chain. We look forward to seeing the positive contributions they will make to the industry.”

This year, eleven students earned First Class Honours Degrees in Food Business Management, Food Innovation and Nutrition, and Food Technology.

Additionally, thirteen Higher Level Apprenticeship students completed Foundation Degree qualifications while continuing to work within the food industry — a testament to the college’s commitment to practical, employment-focused education.

Throughout their studies, students benefited from hands-on training in Loughry’s state-of-the-art food processing facilities, participated in industry-linked projects, and undertook meaningful placements — experiences that have already translated into career success for many graduates.

Joshua Thompson from Ballymena graduated from Loughry Campus with a First Class Honours Degree in Food Business Management. Joshua was presented with the DAERA prize as top student on his course. Joshua was congratulated by Fintan McCann (Head of Food Education, CAFRE), Dr Mary McCann (Faculty Partnership Manager, Ulster University) and Martin McKendry (Head of Food, Farming and Rural Affairs Group, DAERA) at the Higher Education Graduation Ceremony.

Joshua Thompson from Ballymena, one of the ceremony’s standout graduates, reflected on his educational journey:

“I started studying at Loughry Campus on the Level 3 programme after I completed my GCSEs. I have just graduated with a First-Class Honours Degree in Food Business Management, which is validated by Ulster University. Studying at Loughry gave me an incredible six years.

“The support from lecturers, the friendships built, and the opportunities to connect with industry have made my experience unforgettable. I have recently started a new job as a Food Technologist with Bradburys Cheese in Buxton, England. I know, as graduates, we’re all excited to take our next steps into work and make a real difference in the world of food.”

Graduates from this year’s cohort are already embarking on promising careers in food manufacturing, quality assurance, product development, sales and marketing, and supply chain management, further reinforcing Loughry Campus’s reputation as a centre of excellence in food education.

As the Class of 2025 steps confidently into the professional world, CAFRE staff extended warm congratulations and best wishes for their future contributions to the agri-food sector across Northern Ireland and beyond.

Holly Brown from Moneymore graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Food Innovation and Nutrition at the Graduation Ceremony at CAFRE. Holly was awarded with the Food Standards Agency Prize for achieving the highest marks in the Food and Nutrition final year module. Congratulating Holly are Dr Elaine McMackin (Lecturer, CAFRE) and Roberta Ferson (Head of Corporate Services and Strategic Engagement, FSA NI).

Emma Halliday from Moneymore was presented with the Society of Dairy Technology Prize and Certificate in recognition of performance in a dairy related final year assessment. Emma was congratulated by Louise Harkness (Lecturer, CAFRE) when she graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Food Innovation and Nutrition from Loughry Campus.

Congratulations to Abigail Thom from Cookstown, Anna Gamble from Dungannon, Caitlin Walker from Newmills and Aoife Devlin from Cookstown who all opted to study local to attain degree qualifications. The students graduated from CAFRE with Ulster University validated programmes in Food Technology and Food Innovation and Nutrition which they studied at Loughry Campus, Cookstown.

Rachel McIntyre from Coleraine was presented with the Collette O’Neill Memorial Cup recognising her contribution to student life at Loughry Campus during the past academic year. Congratulating Rachel on her active involvement in Loughry life is Judith Mullan (Student Services, Loughry Campus)and Fintan McCann (Head of Food Education, CAFRE). Rachel graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Food Business Management at CAFRE’s Higher Education Graduation Ceremony.

Interested in following in their footsteps?

Applications are still open for September 2025 enrolment at Loughry Campus.

Discover more at: www.cafre.ac.uk