Trinity College has announced plans to offer a bespoke education programme for senior executives in small and medium- sized businesses in Britain and Ireland.

The course, which will be designed by the university’s business school, is targeting executives in companies looking to grow the size of their businesses via the export market.

The Trinity International Growth Programme is being sponsored by Bank of Ireland and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and will run over three years.

The first courses will take place in the first quarter of 2016 and will involve 20 firms in year one.

The programme will feature intensive classes, case study sessions, seminars, guest talks, workshops and a mentored project.

Prof Andrew Burke, dean of Trinity Business School, said: "Developing a leadership position in a segment of the international market and then using this as a bridgehead for further global expansion is one of the lessons that we will be implementing on this programme."