MSc in Marketing Practice Intern, Thomas Kennedy, Completes Placement at JFC
University of Galway student shares his thoughts on an “inspirational” experience.
When marketing students picture industry placements, they often imagine content calendars, campaign planning, coffee runs, and time spent editing TikToks behind a desk. For Thomas Kennedy, the experience looked a little different. Since joining JFC in August 2025 through the University of Galway MSc Marketing Practice programme, Thomas has spent the past 37 weeks gaining exposure to every stage of the product journey. Alongside day-to-day responsibilities in social media marketing, SEO, and lead generation, he spent time on farms, attended content shoots, and saw first-hand how products move from design and manufacture to customers around the world.
As a market-leading manufacturing company with a focus on innovation, no day at JFC is the same. Our team is involved in every step of a product’s journey, from the first sketch in the R&D lab to decades of follow up support from technical experts. The broader perspective of working with us provides one of the most valuable aspects of the placement for Thomas.
“It makes it a lot easier to market a product that you understand fully,” he said in relation to his involvement along various stages of the product lifecycle.
With operations spanning Agri, Evolution, Civils, Marine, and Material Handling, we offer interns exposure to a wide range of products, customers, and industries. Spending time with different teams across the business helps students like Thomas bridge the gap between classroom theory and the realities of a modern manufacturing business.
“Seeing a company design, develop, and manufacture products all in-house was very inspirational to me,” Thomas reflected.
At JFC, we draft, manufacture, and market our goods from Ireland (and the UK). With tight-knit teams, interns get the opportunity to see beyond their own department. R&D, manufacturing, sales, and marketing all happen under one roof, providing valuable insight into how different parts of the business operate and connect. Speaking about the placement, Thomas described the experience as transformative and highlighted the confidence he has gained heading into the next stage of his career:
“I believe that I’ve really learned a long about how to operate in a corporate environment and that I’d be able to apply those skills going forward in my career.”
This wider view is a core component of working at JFC. People are not separated from the products, customers, or sectors they support. Campaigns may start with a customer need, develop through engineers, draw input from salespeople, and finish with content created for markets at home and overseas. We’re part of a collaborative environment where people are encouraged to get involved, understand the bigger picture, and contribute beyond the boundaries of their own role.
If JFC sounds like a place you’d like to take your career to next, get in touch or visit our careers page.
