Our Thoroughbred Talents Graduate Programme (IT Stream) will commence in October 2026. This is a unique two-year programme designed to immerse graduates in the dynamic and evolving technology landscape that supports the Irish horse racing industry.
Throughout the programme, you will rotate across multiple IT disciplines, gaining exposure to core operational support, software development, project delivery, and cyber security. As part of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), you will play a key role in supporting and enhancing the digital infrastructure that underpins racecourses, racing operations, and the wider industry.
This programme provides a structured pathway to develop both technical expertise and business understanding within a fast-paced, innovative, and industry-critical environment.
Programme Rotations
The programme will encompass rotations across the following key areas within the IT department:
IT Shared Services - Service Desk (1st Line Support)
Graduates will begin their journey in the IT Servicedesk team, providing first-line technical support across HRI, its racecourses, and supported entities e.g. IHRB. This placement builds essential technical and customer service skills, forming a critical foundation for your IT career. You will:
Applications Development / Microsoft 365 Technologies
In this rotation, graduates will gain exposure to building and enhancing business solutions through either:
Applications Development:
Microsoft 365 & Cloud Technologies:
Project Management Office (PMO) and Continuous Improvement
Within the PMO, graduates will gain insight into how technology projects are delivered across HRI. You will work as part of a project management team helping deliver a variety of projects and change initiatives the work will. This placement will develop your organisational, analytical, and communication skills. Key duties include:
CyberSecurity
In this rotation, graduates will explore the technologies shaping the future of HRI's IT environment. You will gain hands-on experience in:
Learning & Development
As part of the programme, you will:
Programme Experience
In addition to your rotational placements, you will:
Qualifications We Are Seeking:
Essential:
Desirable (not essential):
Key Qualities We Are Looking For
Why Join Horse Racing Ireland's IT Graduate Programme?
This programme offers a unique opportunity to develop your IT career within an organisation at the heart of Ireland's horse racing industry. You will gain hands-on experience across a wide range of IT disciplines while contributing to systems that support one of Ireland's most vibrant and internationally recognised industries.
Selection Process:
Complete the application questions, providing details about your educational background, relevant experiences, and motivations for joining the graduate programme.
Our recruitment team will review all applications to assess qualifications, skills, and alignment with the programme's objectives. This stage involves a careful examination of academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and any additional supporting information provided.
Shortlisted candidates are invited to complete a set of selection assessments designed to evaluate aptitude, analytical skills, and suitability for the specific roles within the graduate programme.
Successful candidates from the assessment stage are then invited to participate in first-round interviews. These interviews are typically conducted by the HR team and hiring managers and will focus on exploring your motivations, experiences, and suitability for the programme.
Candidates who successfully navigate the initial interview stage are invited to a second round, where you will have the opportunity to interact with senior management. This stage delves deeper into candidate's potential contributions to the organization and allows senior leaders to assess the alignment of the candidate with the overall strategic goals of the company.
After thorough evaluation and consideration of all stages, the final selection is made. Successful candidates will be offered a place on the Thoroughbred Talents Graduate Programme, marking the beginning of your professional journey with the organisation.
HRI is an equal opportunities employer, and we are committed to inclusivity and accessibility. We will provide any necessary reasonable accommodation for candidates during the interview process.
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