FMCG Futures: How Industry Collaboration Is Creating Early Talent Opportunities
At a recent NZAGE forum, Talent Solutions presented the story behind their 2024 Best Innovation Award win, sharing how the FMCG Futures Internship Programme is reshaping early talent pipelines through collaboration across the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.
The Problem
Before FMCG Futures launched, employers in the FMCG sector were working in isolation. Recruitment efforts were fragmented, branding was inconsistent, and many students had little or no awareness of the sector. The term “FMCG” itself wasn’t widely understood by students, let alone considered as a viable career path.
The Solution
In 2018, Talent Solutions partnered with the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council and training partner BizAdvisor to launch a unified, sector-wide summer internship programme. Since then, 167 interns have been placed across 57 employers.
What makes the programme unique is its cohort model, bringing interns together across different organisations for shared workshops, peer learning, and sector exposure. This format is particularly valuable for smaller employers that may only take on one or two interns and would struggle to provide such a rich development experience on their own.
How It Works
The programme targets students in their penultimate or final year of study and offers up to 12 weeks of paid summer work. Students apply once and are matched with opportunities across multiple FMCG employers. Interns benefit from structured onboarding, sector-specific training, site visits, and career development workshops.
Talent Solutions handles the full recruitment process — from attraction through to shortlisting — and supports participating employers with training and resources to ensure a high-quality experience.
Pre-boarding and Development
One key strength of the programme is its pre-boarding. Interns receive handbooks, training, and resources before their first day, giving them confidence and clarity about what to expect. They then take part in four in-depth workshops focused on communication, industry insights, and career readiness.
The value of peer connection is also prioritised. Interns are supported through a digital platform that encourages ongoing engagement and networking between sessions.
Measuring Impact
Programme success is tracked through both quantitative and qualitative measures. Some recent results include:
100% of employers agreed that interns met or exceeded expectations
90%+ acceptance rate maintained annually
67% of shortlisted applicants progressed to offer stage
A 113% increase in female applicants over the last three years
High levels of intern understanding and interest in FMCG roles after completing the programme
Feedback loops are integrated throughout, including real-time input during workshops and post-programme surveys. This feedback shapes future improvements and helps build strong word-of-mouth promotion among students returning to campus.
Why Employers Join
Participating employers cite three main reasons for getting involved:
Efficiency – Talent Solutions removes the time-consuming burden of recruitment
Development – Interns receive high-quality training and a rich cohort experience
Cost-effectiveness – Costs are shared across the group, making it accessible to more employers
Key Takeaways for Other Programmes
For organisations looking to strengthen their own internship offerings, Talent Solutions shared several insights:
Pre-boarding matters – Set interns up for success before day one
Build peer connection – Cohort engagement drives overall satisfaction
Use your alumni – Former interns are powerful advocates on campus
Train your hiring managers – Clear expectations and preparation improve outcomes
Create feedback loops – Regular, purposeful feedback leads to continuous improvement
What’s Next
The FMCG Futures Programme continues to grow, with more employers, higher application numbers, and an increasing rate of interns moving into graduate roles. Talent Solutions believes the model is well suited to other sectors where employers face similar challenges in reaching and engaging early talent.
The success of the programme shows that when an industry works together, it can deliver real opportunities for students and create long-term value for employers.
Want to know more? or interested in becoming an FMCG Futures Employer? Register here
