Could your business benefit from a pig industry scholar?

AHDB is seeking sponsors for the Pig Industry Scholarship programme, which aims to attract new talent to the industry.

The Pig Industry Scholarship programme offers one-year work placements to enthusiastic young students studying at Harper Adams University, who receive a bursary of £4,500.

The programme was developed by AHDB, the NPA allied industry group (AIG) and Harper Adams University in 2012. It is managed by a steering group of industry and university representatives and chaired by the NPA’s AIG chairman, Hugh Crabtree.

Now in its eighth year, the programme has seen 29 students spend their placement year within the pig industry, with many returning to their placement company after graduation.

AHDB has outlined the benefits to businesses of sponsoring the scheme:

• Attract potential new employees from a huge pool of talent
• Gain first access to students looking for a placement
• Be seen as a business that cares about upskilling the next generation
• Establish a relationship with a student early in their studies
• Opportunity to appraise students during a ‘year-long interview’
• An effective staff retention strategy
• Financial investment is similar to advertising in national farming press and is often tax-deductible

AHDB said: “If you are in a position to offer a scholarship and  why not consider and join us in attracting the next generation of employees to the pig industry?”

“If you could offer a placement, whether on farm, in an animal health or nutrition business, or perhaps in agri-food and marketing, we would love to hear from you.”

In a feature in the June issue of Pig World, Hugh said: “This programme now operates successfully and has delivered some first-rate people into the sector who are already making important contributions to the future of the industry.

“What we now need to do is to grow the number of companies offering scholarships by helping them appreciate what a good value recruitment tool the programme actually is.

“That applies whether it’s pig production, veterinary science, food processing and manufacturing, genetic science, new product development, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, or engineering in all its forms – the list just goes on.”

Applications to become a sponsor close on August 31.

More details

• AHDB is hosting a webinar on Friday, June 26 to provide details more about what the scholarship programme entails. You can register here
• You can read more about the programme and listen to a podcast here
• You can read the Pig World feature on how the scholarship benefits businesses and young people in the industry here
• Alternatively, you can get in touch with Emily Boyce, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Officer – Skills Development Email: emily.boyce@ahdb.org.uk Tel: 07776 594790

Picture caption: The main picture depicts recent scholars and others involved with the scheme – top, from left: Emily Morgan, Nick Lawson, Emily Boyce, Bethany Gardner, Sian Southwell, Dearbhla Connell, Nick Major (ForFarmers), John McKechnie, Maisie Lord, Hugh Crabtree (NPA AIG chair), Alan Stewart (Harper Adams). Bottom: Stacey Mcllmoyle, Erin Fowler, Oliver Ashton, Anita Woolf.