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At CAS Recruitment, we understand that talent shortages are not just a challenge for corporate offices and hospitality businesses, they can deeply impact rural employers and food processing. Over the last 3 years working farm to fork we have placed over 3000 skilled Filipino workers into the UK farming and food processing sectors - butchers, slaughters, dairy, poultry and swine farmers. With the Irish government understanding the importance of food security and announcing 1000 permits for butchers and 800 permits for dairy farming in December 2025, if you are looking for an industry trusted partner, then CAS Recruitment has the knowledge, capability and expertise to ensure the right outcome every time.

The Challenge: Sourcing Skilled Workers for Specialist Farm and Food Processing Roles

Like many farms and meat processing plants across Ireland, our UK clients have faced a shortage of labour for key positions. Traditional local recruitment channels had limited success, the need for skilled butchery and dairy workers became urgent. The UK Government in July 2025 removed all skilled worker codes available, effectively blocking all recruitment from outside of the UK.

Ireland operates a General Employment Permit system that allows non-EEA nationals to work in occupations where there is a genuine labour shortage. In recent years, quotas have been established specifically for critical agricultural roles, including butchers/deboners and dairy farm assistants, with 1000 permit places for butchers/deboners and 800 permits for dairy farm assistants currently available to help employers address workforce gaps.

However, these permit quotas are not unlimited and they will undoubtably go quickly illustrating just how competitive and time-sensitive the process can be for to recruit overseas talent. Even with the free movement of labour within the EU, the Irish Government has clearly made food security a priority.

How CAS Recruitment Works

Our team work hands-on with clients from the outset:

✅ Understanding the Requirement
We began by conducting a detailed consultation to understand the operational needs, the specific skills required, and the most suitable candidate profile for roles in both butchery and dairy production.

✅ Tailored Recruitment Strategy
Given the limits and complexities of Ireland’s employment permit quotas, our specialists advised on how to structure job specifications that would meet permit criteria and appeal to high-calibre international candidates.

✅ Legal and Permit Guidance
Navigating Irish employment permit legislation can be daunting for employers outside major corporate sectors. CAS will support and guide clients through the labour market needs test, posting requirements, documentation, and timelines to secure permits efficiently and compliantly.

✅ Candidate Sourcing and Screening
CAS has 3 recruitment companies within our group based in the Philippines to source candidates with the exact skills needed, ensuring they met eligibility for Irish work permits and were ready for relocation. We are one of only a few recruitment companies that actually have their own teams in the Philippines, meaning we are in total control from start to finish, guaranteeing our services and quality of candidates.

✅ End-to-End Support
Beyond recruitment, we supported clients and candidates through the visa application stage, helped prepare supporting evidence for the employment permit application, and advised on immigration steps to ensure a smooth transition, minimising the timeframe from interview to arrival.

The Outcome

Thanks to coordinated support from CAS Recruitment:

➡️ CAS has successfully secured over 3000 skilled overseas workers for both butchery and dairy roles.
➡️ Clients navigated the visa process with confidence, knowing each step was handled professionally and in compliance with Irish employment regulations.
➡️ Worker retention and morale improved, providing stability during critical production periods. 3 years later 98% of all candidates placed are still in post

➡️CAS are member of the ALP (Association of Labour Providers, adhering to Stronger Together principles and each group company holds an individuals GLAA Licence

Why CAS Recruitment Makes the Difference

Specialist sectors like the food sector require more than just advertising jobs, they need expert guidance, industry knowledge, and strategic recruitment execution. CAS’s team has deep experience in navigating employment permit systems and international talent sourcing, helping Irish employers fill roles that simply can’t be filled locally.

If your business is struggling to find skilled workers, whether on the farm, in food processing, or across specialist trades, CAS Recruitment is here to help you find the people you need and guide you through the legal and administrative journey from start to finish. In addition to supporting many clients north of the boarder in Northern Ireland, ready to act as professional reference to our services we have already supported Glenmore Estate in Ireland securing 10 skilled dairy farmers.