Seven companies have signed up to sponsor this year’s Pig Industry Scholarships.
There are six returning sponsors – ABN, CEVA, Devenish Nutrition, ForFarmers, Provimi and Rattlerow Farms – and one new one, Stephen Tuer Farms.
They will provide a paid placement to second year BSc and first year FdSc students at Harper Adams who are interested in a career in the pig industry.
The successful scheme, originally an initiative of the NPA’s Allied Industry Group and now facilitated by AHDB, aims to encourage new entrants while enabling individual businesses to cherry-pick high-calibre new employees.
The scholarship has secured more than 20 scholars since its inception, many of which have gone on to make a valuable contribution to the industry. The scheme offers scholars a natural progression into their chosen career path – with 50% of inaugural 2014 scholars still working in the industry one year on from graduating.
The seven sponsoring companies will attend the scholarship fair in October where they will, hopefully, find ideal students to join their business.
AHDB Skills Development Officer Samantha Bowsher said: “We are delighted to welcome all seven sponsoring companies – six of which are returning for another year, showing their continued support for bringing new talent into the industry.
“The Pig Industry Scholarship has been gaining momentum in the last two years with the scheme offering very real and ongoing opportunities for students at Harper Adams.”
Scholarship chairman Nick Major said: “We are thrilled to welcome Stephen Tuer Farms for the first year. Without our sponsoring companies this scheme wouldn’t be possible. It’s also great to see the number of production-based businesses increasing as this remains a popular area for the students.”