Agri-Value Marketing Internship Program

Expanding Business - Building Capacity
This program will assist agri-value Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME's) in the completion of market development projects by providing financial assistance for hiring marketing interns.  The program is funded by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food and administered by the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP).

Eligibility Criteria

TARGET EMPLOYEES

• Current Master of Business Administration (MBA) students and recent (within five years) MBA graduates, along with recent Commerce or Administration graduates are eligible to become interns in the program.  Recent graduates from other post secondary institutions or programs may be considered based on expertise and the nature of the proposed marketing project. 
• All interns participating must be legally entitled to work in Saskatchewan during their internship.   

TARGET EMPLOYERS

• Companies eligible to take advantage of this program will be agri-value companies.  These may include food processors, meat processors, or manufacturers of ingredients, functional foods and pet foods. 
• Preference will be given to companies that can clearly identify their value proposition and have a strong desire to develop marketing initiatives based on appropriate food safety and quality attributes.
• Applicants must demonstrate their ability to implement the project as outlined and be an operational company.  Projects must focus on developing markets outside of Saskatchewan.

Please note that membership in Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership - STEP is not a prerequisite for this program.

Summary

The program is designed to place recent graduates or current graduate students ("interns") into agri-value companies ("employers") in Saskatchewan on a cost shared basis.  These interns will conduct market research and develop specific marketing programs for new products or markets.  Following STEP's mandate, a significant portion of this work will be for a market outside of Saskatchewan.  If appropriate, the intern may even participate in the implementation of the marketing program or in-market research as additional funding may be provided to assist with travel costs of the intern.  The goal is to ensure that Saskatchewan's agri-value companies have the ability to develop quality marketing initiatives and have access to relevant marketing skills.  As well, the interns will have the ability to develop their skills and gain relevant work experience.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• Increase the ability of agri-value businesses to enter a new market and/or develop additional new products
• Build internal capacity of agri-value businesses in the areas of marketing through the development of comprehensive marketing strategies
• Assist companies in attracting trained employees with marketing and business skills

FUNDING INFORMATION

• The program will fund new contract internships based on acceptance of a proposed project.  The funding will be 50 percent of the intern's monthly salary up to a maximum of $1,500 per month.
• There will also be an option of applying for additional funds to assist with travel costs for the intern to complete in-market development activities related to research.  These funds will cover up to 50 percent of travel costs (flights, accommodations, translation and interpretation) up to a maximum level of $3,000.
• Each company may receive program funding to a maximum of 16 months over the three year span of the program (2006 - 2009).

For additional information about this program as well as details on how to apply, please contact your nearest STEP office as shown below.

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
Ms. Brynna Bergerman
Market Intelligence Specialist
Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership
#500 - 402 - 21st Street East
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S4K 0C3
Telephone: 306-933-6559
Fax: 306-933-6556
Toll-free (information): 1-877-313-7244
E-mail: inquire@sasktrade.sk.ca
Web site: http://www.sasktrade.sk.ca