Farmers Guardian Careers Special - 1 March 2024

Edited by Emily Ashworth

Two key aims for the industry are to help those already in farming thrive and encouraging new talent from outside the sector. This special focuses on leadership, opening doors to new faces and working towards a more inclusive future.

By Emily Ashworth

Last year farming champion and TV personality Kaleb Cooper launched his very own bursary to help youngsters from non-agricultural backgrounds get a step up in the industry.

In association with the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), two lucky students were picked and now get the chance to work alongside the

Kaleb Cooper bursary boosts farm careers

Clarkson’s Farm star on a placement, as well as receiving a £3,000 bursary.

Caitlin Oxton and Caitlyn Bartlett are both from non-farming back-

grounds. Caitlin is in her second year at RAU studying applied farm management, while Caitlyn is in her first year studying agriculture.

Both are keen to make their mark in the industry, and there is no doubt that with support from Kaleb and his array of contacts, they will do just that.

Having built up a good amount of experience over the years, Caitlin recalls that taking the first step was the hardest.

were in the industry when I first started out working in poultry. In the last couple of years, we have done a lot in terms of women in agriculture.

“It is not as hard to get into the industry as it was 20 years ago.”

Kaleb is from a non-farming background and has somewhat made it his mission to speak up about the variety of careers within the sector.

He hopes to give others the chance to experience it.

She says: “There are a few obstacles, as you are going in with no knowledge, whereas others know what they are doing. It is a bit of a catch-up.

Important

“The first step is the hardest, when they are throwing everything at you. But it is all possible with the right people around you.”

Both are interested in agronomy, but they both say that getting experience in other areas, such as livestock, is essential, especially when it comes to learning vital skills, such as tractor driving.

He says: “Farming is who I am. Encouraging the younger generation into agriculture has always been so important to me. I feel lucky that I knew my path from such an early age and want to help spread that passion and drive. Launching this bursary means so much, as it can support students who want to pursue an agricultural career or who might be struggling to get into farming.

Having come into the industry with no prior exposure though, what have they since learned?

Caitlyn says: “I was surprised – and reassured – to see how many women

“Having come from a non-farming background, I believe agriculture can be for anybody. I know there is so much potential for young people to have brilliant careers in agriculture.

“It should be open to all and espe-

Caitlin Oxton

Caitlyn Bartlett

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CAREERS

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

To hear the interview with Caitlin and Caitlyn, scan the QR code:

cially those who have financial difficulties or are completely new to farming.”

Caitlin has one year left at RAU, and her placement with Kaleb starts this month. She will split it into two, working half of it alongside Kaleb and hoping to be able to use the other half to explore the agronomy sector, utilising Kaleb’s contacts. Over the next year, she is looking forward to graduating and has a job to go home to working on a dairy and arable farm before the new term starts. She is, however, taking all she can from this experience.

Whether you are looking to start in the agricultural industry or are looking to build on what you already have, there is help out there.

She says: “I thought there would be so many people who apply for [the bursary] and luckily I ended up getting it.

“I am starting to set myself up for [life] post-university. Having those contacts and Kaleb himself, it will help in the future. It is the exposure of it all.

Developments

“I just want to see what everything ends up being and see how what we are doing now develops. Things can change, but that is quite exciting.”

Kaleb Cooper

Caitlyn has two years left, but she hopes to get out there and gain some hands-on in-field experience. She feels it is quite hard to get work experience in agronomy.

She says: “There are not many firms which will let you shadow them, so you do not want to get further down the line to realise this is not where you want to be.

“[This] is an amazing opportunity he has given us both, especially the placement. It will open doors and give me the chance to do something I

36 MIKE DUXBURY

The Blind Farmer talks about diversity

38 BUILDING BUSINESS

Henry Plumb Foundation supporting youngsters

40 TRAINING

Dawn Meats offering leadership programme

40 ROOTS TO REGEN

Making practices profitable

41 CONFIDENCE

Key tools from Women in Food and Farming

42 Q&As

Two Nuffield Scholars

would not be able to do in a different sector in the industry.

“After I have done [my placement], I am interested to see if my path changes. It will still be in farming, but perhaps I will prefer livestock.”

QWhat do you feel are the main barriers when it comes to welcoming people into agriculture?

AI think the main barrier is the perception of disabled people’s capabilities; an assumption that because they have a disability they do not have the intelligence or skill levels to work within this or any industry.

Inherited rights and social standing are also barriers. Having money or being born into an agricultural family should not be the only in-road.

It should be accessible to all, from any walk of life, like any other industry.

QWhat needs to change about farming’s message in order to attract a wider talent pool?

AI do not see the message as being the issue. We are in a world now where action demonstrates the true inspiration within the industry.

A lot of companies have talked about diversity for a long time, but it is usually around practices rather than people. For example, how can a farm make money from the land, rather than how can the industry be better enriched by non-agricultural people, including those from diverse groups?

In this Q&A, Farmers Guardian speaks to Mike Duxbury, the blind farmer who established the Inclusive Farm, about how he wants to open farming’s doors to all.

Perception of disabled people needs to change

I also feel there is difficulty in understanding what true diversity and inclusion means. Again, it is not the message, but how it is being perceived.

QIs sharing stories enough? How do we push this further, such as getting farming onto the curriculum or highlighting this to the Government?

AFeel-good stories in the media have a very short shelf life. We need to start working with educators, teachers and parents to involve students at the right age, when they are making their career decisions.

Plus, agricultural colleges need to be more open to diversity and inclusion. It would be desirable to have a national programme and commitment that they all sign up to, to ensure all people have a fair chance of entering and participating in the agricultural training system.

Articles in newspapers and magazines have their place, but deep-rooted cultural change needs to happen.

QWhat/who helped you when you were starting out? And has this shaped how you work now in terms of getting people into agriculture?

AMy love of agriculture while working alongside my father helped me live my dream. My drive and determination was encouraged by my father and forward-thinking people from Warwickshire College of Agriculture, who gave me an opportunity to go to their educational establishment when I was rejected by every other college. They allowed me to be myself and develop and learn the same as any other student, allowing me to find my own way of learning and working in a sighted world.

QWhat would your advice to others be? And how can the industry start working towards a more inclusive future?

AFirstly, always follow your dream, challenge rejection and be the best you can be. The industry must learn the true meaning of diversity and inclusion in people.

As an industry, it must also recognise its own prejudice and learn to not be afraid of people with differences, or those from different backgrounds, but embrace diversity to enrich, educate and nurture better business and a more sustainable future for all.

QDo you have any insight from those outside the industry –any specific examples from people who thought agriculture was not for them and how you have helped to change that?

AA lot of people believe that farming is tough, insular and does not

embrace outsiders at all – a career to be born or bought into. Money and bigotry are both huge factors denying outside blood into farming. This discourages a lot of people, especially if they have a disability or difference.

However, since I built the Inclusive Farm, there has been a huge uprising in those who see a potential for themselves coming into agriculture.

We have a young lady coming from France to stay for three weeks, who wants a career path in agriculture and believed she could not take this path until she saw our farm.

While I do not want to make it all about myself and my project, we have tackled the project head on and challenged big businesses and organisations into questioning their own policies and attitudes to diversity and inclusion. We all, as a nation and as human beings, need to be open and accepting of other people’s differences.

Q What is your main mission if you were to sum it up in one sentence?

A My mission is to bring organisations together from business, education, Government and influential bodies to collaborate in creating a national policy and programme for learners with differences.

Mike Duxbury

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The Henry Plumb Foundation was established in 2012 to support and help young people get started in the food and farming industry. Emily Ashworth reports.

Mentorship at the heart of foundation

Founded by the late Lord Henry Plumb, a wellknown farmer and politician, the mission was to establish a lasting legacy in the industry and invited a group of his friends to become the trustees of The Henry Plumb Foundation.

The foundation has since helped a large number of young people in farming, and one of its key differences is the support of pairing scholars up with mentors.

Each successful scholar is allocated a mentor who has knowledge of the business and sector of the mentee – others are sometimes

brought in to provide special help where a mentor has identified a need.

Bursary

Successful applicants receive a bursary of up to £4,000. It is open to donations from individuals and organisations who wish to provide tangible support for the work of the foundation and hosts its own fundraising events.

Lord Plumb was a respected voice in farming, having been an avid supporter of Young Farmers’ Clubs and a former leader of the NFU, to name but a few of his roles.

In honour of this, the foundation

also assists individuals who wish to become communicators and future leaders. In these cases, alongside an allocated mentor, the scholar will also receive support from, for example, a small team.

During the time the organisation has been in place, about 150 young people have been assisted with their ambitions to enter the world of food and farming, while others already a part of it have been able to grow their enterprises due to its support. Some of these have been helped financially while others with adequate funding have benefited from the allocation of a suitable mentor.

The Henry Plumb Foundation continues on its mission to help young people on their journeys,

Lord Henry Plumb

and alongside the monetary support, it is its mentor scheme which remains at the heart of all it does.

DAVID CHRISTENSEN, THE HENRY PLUM FOUNDATION MENTOR

AS a current mentor to Josh Teal (see panel, p39), David Christensen is keen to highlight that as much as he is here to steer and support Josh, he also gets much out of the experience.

He says: “It is a great initiative –pairing up established farmers with young guns really is helpful.

“The combination of access to finance, life advice, technical

We are so busy we get stuck in our day jobs and forget to lift our heads above the parapet. You do not think about what problems these new entrants are up against DAVID CHRISTENSEN

advice and business advice is the perfect combination. They can learn from our mistakes, but we have also gone on to have successful businesses, so it is about taking advantage of that.

Learning

“And it works both ways: You have me, who has been around for a long time, and it forces you to rethink. We are so busy we get stuck in our day jobs and forget to lift our heads above the parapet. You do not think about what problems these new entrants are up against.

“It helps in my other representative roles too and you can ask, is what we are proposing working for the new guys?”

An established dairy farmer from Oxfordshire, this is the second time David has been a mentor, but for him, he is keen to reiterate that his support goes beyond his official time to mentor the chosen scholar.

“This is what farming is, you make contacts and friends, and Josh can ring me in five years’ time – it is an ongoing relationship,” adds David.

MORE INFORMATION

The next closing date for scholar applications is March 21. If you are aged 18-35 and have an idea or are in the early stages of developing your plan, visit: thehenryplumbfoundation.org.uk

JOSH TEAL, 24, THE HENRY PLUMB FOUNDATION SCHOLAR

HAVING grown up enjoying time on his grandfather’s smallholding in Oxford, Josh Teal caught the farming bug quite early.

He went on to study a level two diploma in agriculture at Moreton Morrell College, and the 24-yearold now works as a herd manager on a beef farm in Bicester.

Working for someone else though, he says, gave him the drive to start his own small herd of cattle.

“I had a few cattle at my grandpa’s,” he says.

“Then some grazing ground came up for rent, so I bought some to put to grass.”

To make it work, though, Josh needed to build numbers, and after coming across The Henry Plumb Foundation, he was able to fund his small business venture and access support from his chosen mentor – and fellow Oxfordshire farmer – David Christensen, who sits on the board of representatives for Arla and is a regional advisory board member

for the Midlands region of NFU Mutual.

“We get on so well,” says Josh.

“He advised me what to buy, what not to do and to have someone who knows about prices is great.

Maximise profits

“We spoke about how I can maximise profits with a low input system, grass management and paddock grazing.

“It gave me the push I needed to go at it a bit more. Before it was more like a hobby, and I have gone from 10 cattle to 50.”

With a mix of Aberdeen-Angus, British Blues and Herefords, the ultimate dream is to find a tenancy and build his own farm business up.

He says that finding somewhere to keep the cattle and access to grazing have been the biggest barriers, but he has been able to monetise his small herd with the guidance, support and funding from the foundation.

Josh Teal has been able to fund his small business venture through The Henry Plumb Foundation.

Developing future managers

At the beginning of the year, Dawn Meats announced the return of its Management Development Programme run in association with University College Dublin (UCD).

Open to employees of Dawn Meats and Dunbia, a subsidiary of Dawn Meats, it has been operating in partnership with UCD since 2015. Covid19, however, disrupted the programme, and after three years it is now back.

More than 100 have completed the programme, which is designed to help managers address the global challenges facing the agri-food industry, such as economic and environmental sustainability, while helping to develop skills in leadership, communications and professional networking.

Academic modules are taught by leaders in the field of management and sustainability in the food industry, as well as members of the Dawn Meats and Dunbia leadership teams.

Niall Browne, chief executive of

Dawn Meats, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for those working in our business and we are delighted to announce its return.

“It is important for us to develop the leaders and managers of the future and help them learn the skills they will need to maximise their own potential. There are many challenges in the agri-food industry, and we want to make sure we have the people with the ability and the know-how to rise to them.”

Lack of awareness

Gary Rowland, Dunbia’s group learning and development manager, believes there is also a lack of awareness of the opportunities available, and that there is a ‘disconnect between the food on a plate and how it got there’.

He says: “Whether your interests lie in the sciences, humanities or data analysis, or you prefer a more hands on approach than strategising, all those interests and preferences are catered for.

EMPLOYER TOOLKIT

Lantra has developed an Agriculture Apprenticeship Toolkit designed to help guide farmers through the process of hiring an apprentice.

We hope with this support we can help bring more young adults from non-farming backgrounds into the industry, and help pave the way for the next generation through mentorship from industry professionals.

“However, a career in farming and the agri-food industry does require a level of resilience as it often involves unsociable hours and, depending on the role, some level of physical labour and these can be viewed unfavourably compared to other industries. Education plays a key role.

“We need to encourage learning about the food chain and where food comes from. As a business, it is imperative that we look to adapt our practices to enable school leavers to come in and gain exposure to parts of the industry they may not have thought about,” he adds.

Help for regen-focused farmers

WITH increased interest in lowering input costs and farming in a naturefriendly way, a new course claims to personalise the transition between conventional and regenerative systems.

The year-long ‘Roots to Regeneration’ programme is a collaboration of Planton Farms and Roots of Nature, bringing together the experiences and knowledge from both the director of Roots of Nature and regenerative agriculture consultant Caroline Grindrod and co-founder of Planton Farms, Clare Hill.

Clare says there are often many needs to match up when trying to implement new practices within a farming business, such as contract restrictions and finances, and it can often be challenging to implement a ‘onesize-fits-all’ regeneration strategy.

She says: “The key difference with the Roots to Regeneration course, when comparing it to many others, is that it is a 12-month learning journey.

“Support is readily offered to make changes while encouraging participants to ‘step back’ and identify key questions such as, what regenerative outcomes they are looking for? What do they enjoy? What do they want to do more of? Then with these answers, we are able to design systems for individual farms and farmers, rather than use practices copied straight from other farms.”

By the end of the 12 months, she says participants will have gained an in-depth knowledge of regenerative farming principles, hands-on implementation skills, and a collaborative community to further their journey as leaders in agriculture.

“We want participants to be able to leave with confidence and understanding of what regenerative outcomes they are trying to achieve, and how they might then make these changes that are right for them and their farm,” she says.

Interest

The first cohort starts on March 5, with the hope of running at least one course per year, increasing as the interest rises.

She adds: “I like to ask potential participants how much they spent on fertiliser, animal feeds and external inputs that are outside of their control.

“The programme should be seen as an investment and could easily be written off within five to 10 years with suitable cost savings.

“This course will set off a path for a farming journey that includes a lower-cost system.

“This year we secured multiple grant funders for 50 per cent of the course price making it much cheaper for participants, we are hoping to continue more funding as we progress.”

More than 100 employees have completed Dawn Meat’s Management Development Programme.

Recognising your own and other people’s strengths to become a good leader and building self-confidence were highlighted at a LAMMA event focusing on women in agriculture. The Women in Food and Farming network is an organisation which supports women in the industry and provides valuable networking and knowledge sharing opportunities.

The panel discussion on January 17 was chaired by Emily Norton of Norton’s Dairy. She was joined by: Beverly Dixon, of Haygrove and HR director of G’s; Jacqui Green of the British Growers Association and Viridis Associates; Rosie Bryson of Crop Health and Protection; Christine Tacon, of MDS, BBC Rural Affairs Committee and chair of Red Tractor; and Tess Howe of The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture.

The Women in Food and Farming discussion at LAMMA 2024 offered career inspiration. Emily Ashworth reports.

Self-awareness and confidence are key

Take away points from the Women in Food and Farming discussion

■ Women bring different skills to the table; utilise your differences

■ Aligned purposes are key in teamwork and management roles

■ Be the best leader you can be and get to know who you are managing;

remember not everyone is the same

■ Journal what goes well and ask yourself what impact it had

■ Give yourself little challenges; these provide you with small wins and push you forwards

Support the workforce of the future by sharing your expertise with City & Guilds

■ Co-operation; be part of the change which alters the culture; collaboration is key

■ Start asking the first question; when out at conferences or in a group, once someone else speaks

up, it gives you the confidence to, but why not be the first person to talk?

■ Not many people are naturally confident; this takes time and requires you to push yourself out of your comfort zone

There’s a growing need for employers and industry members to get more involved in the development and review of technical qualifications.

We are keen to engage with industry members and work together to create technical qualifications for the land-based sector that are robust and fit for purpose.

There are a number of ways in which you can support us:

Join our Employer Industry Boards to discuss skills, training and qualifications

Review qualification content as we develop new qualifications and review existing ones

Become an associate, in a role such as a moderator or examiner

These opportunities are flexible and work alongside your other commitments.

Each provides excellent professional development opportunities and will help drive standards for future generations.

For more information visit: cityandguilds.com/tlevels/employers or contact Jackie Hough at Jackie.Hough@cityandguilds.com

The panel discussion focused on working to individual strengths.

Liz Haines, a dairy farmer based in Staffordshire, and Dan Smith, who manages Jamie’s Farm, are both Nuffield Scholars for 2024. What do they hope to acheive?

Nuffield Scholars discuss the future of agriculture

Liz Haines

QYour research is titled ‘Neurodiversity in agriculture’; what do you hope to achieve?

AI would like to start the conversation about neurodiversity –including dyslexia, ADHD and autism – in agriculture. If we hope to attract more people into agriculture, then we need to do all we can to ensure that it is a welcoming and inclusive industry.

However, it is not just about bringing a wider group of people to the table; we need to be doing all that we can to ensure they can share their ideas, achieve their potential and thrive.

AQWhat does a diverse workforce mean for the future of farming?

To push the boundaries of what is possible and move the industry forward, I believe we need fresh ideas. If we carry on working in the same echo chambers, then we will get the same answers. Instead, we need to be focusing on what we can do to bring in new perspectives, and how we can work together effectively to come up with answers.

A fantastic example of this is Dr Temple Grandin, an animal science professor and leading expert on humane animal handling.

Dr Grandin has a form of autism which allows her to perceive the world differently and create revolutionary systems for livestock handling.

AQWhere did the idea for this research come from?

In my experience, neurodiversity is common in agriculture –perhaps even more so than other industries – but it is not something that is talked about.

As an employer, I believe we have a duty of care to support the needs of those working for us. Ultimately, if we support our team effectively, then we are far more likely to have a successful business.

Q Would you encourage farmers to look at a wider talent pool when it comes to hiring?

AWe all know that agriculture has challenges around recruitment, so we must widen the net. In my experience, we have taken on team members who do not have any agricultural experience, but their enthusiasm and lack of preconceptions have made them brilliant to work with. It comes down to investing time in training and communicating effectively.

Q Why did you decide to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship?

AI see huge value in challenge and development, and it is something I encourage in others, so I would feel hypocritical to not push myself. I am also a great believer in helping others and the scholarship creates opportunities to do this on a global scale.

As someone who entered the industry without any qualifications, and often suffers from imposter syndrome, I am also able to complete a Postgraduate Diploma by accrediting my Nuffield report.

AQWhere has your passion for this research topic come from?

In my role, I am privileged to have daily conversations with the brilliant and capable young people who we have working on the farm. I am passionate about championing those who are often dismissed - given the right support and guidance, many of them could prove to be huge assets to our sector.

I am also hugely proud of our regenerative farming methods and

the positive effect we are having as land custodians. This often ignites passion in others who visit, and I see this energy as a vehicle for change.

Q How do you hope your research can change the industry?

A I intend to identify the barriers young people face and how they view the agricultural industry and combine this with knowledge and learnings from organisations, farmers and educators who are already doing great work.

My aim is to share knowledge and encourage a bright future for the sector and those who work in it. It is a hugely complex issue that other industries are working hard to develop strategies around, so it is important agriculture does not miss its opportunity.

Q What must we do to get more people into the industry?

A Firstly, we must recognise there is an issue, take responsibility and collaborate. As an industry, we are proud of our daily contribution to the lives of others, so: celebrate our profession, engage with the future and inspire where possible.

I am at the beginning of my study, but I have been able to speak to lots of incredible people who are making progress in this area. We are moving in the right direction, so we need to keep the momentum going.

RESEARCH title: Neurodiversity in agriculture, sponsored by McDonald’s

RESEARCH title: Generation regeneration, we need you, sponsored by McDonald’s

Dan Smith

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS MANAGER

SCOTLAND & NORTHERN ENGLAND

DLF is the world’s largest producer of grass and clover seed and has a comprehensive portfolio of associated products.

As part of DLF’s succession planning, a rare opportunity has arisen for an Agricultural Business Manager to join our Sales Team in Scotland and the North.

The ideal candidate will likely have a successful background in agriculture combined with good technical knowledge of farming practice. An attractive benefits package to include a company car, pension, bonus, and competitive salary is on offer to the right candidate.

Closing date: 28th March 2024

Please send all applications to victoria.wraight@dlf.com

Scan the QR Code for more details.

Arable Farm Manager

A 2,000Ha family run agricultural business in the Northeast of Scotland, farmed by an extensive range of agriculture machinery and equipment.

The candidate must hold strong people management skills to lead a permanent team of 10, as well as seasonal staff.

The successful candidate should have experience, knowledge and a strong interest in large scale arable farm management. Including mechanical planting, harvesting, irrigating, cultivating and storage of our farming enterprise produce including grain, potatoes, and bulbs. They should have enthusiasm to address future challenges and suggest and implement modern farming methods and technology to constantly better the business.

Responsible for planning crop rotations, and the purchase of farm inputs and sale of farm produce.

The candidate will be forward thinking and hold good problemsolving skills.

Full driving licence, agriculture machinery and basic maintenance experience is essential.

Ensure health & safety compliance and create a positive H&S culture. A competitive package will be offered dependant on experience, company vehicle and family home are available for the right candidate. Flexible working hours and patterns dependant on busy periods. To apply, please send your CV to Serena@slainspark.com.

John I Forbes & Partner, Slains Park Farm, Kinneff, Angus, DD10 0SY.

HEAD STOCKPERSON

We are looking for a Head Stockperson to be responsible for the day to day running of our beef suckler herd and cattle fattening enterprises.

You will be experienced with the general husbandry of cattle including calving, feeding, animal health and breeding.

We are currently running 180 Suckler cows, mainly Limousin but with some Shorthorn and Angus cross cows. The farm is usually carrying upwards of 400 head of cattle. The enterprise is well resourced with excellent stock, modern buildings and good handling facilities.

Based in Hampshire, we are a mixed farming Estate totalling 1870 acres. We are committed to a sustainable farming system with the livestock enterprises being key to the long-term future of the Estate

The herd was Reserve Champion in 2022 Limousin Society National Commercial Herd competition.

This is a genuine career opportunity for the right person.

We are offering a generous relocation allowance with a Salary and benefits package commensurate with the importance of the role which includes a rent free modern 3 bedroom house on the Estate.

Please

Business Development Manager

Agriconnect is a business unit within the Arc network, a global events, data, and media platform. Arc is a fast-growing global events, data, and media platform with a varied portfolio content led portals, magazines, and events.

Since 1844, the brands of Agriconnect have been the trusted source of information for farmers and with brands like Farmers Guardian, events, like LAMMA and Farm Business Innovation, and digital platforms, like FG Insights, Agriconnect continues to bring together the British farming community.

THE ROLE:

• We are now looking for a motivated and driven salesperson to join our Sales team.

• The main function of the role is to develop business through growth in revenue, yield, and to increase customer numbers. You will be required to identify new opportunities and influence companies’ media buying habits within the agricultural sector. Due to the ever-changing nature of the industry, this person will have the ability to spot new avenues and exploit market trends.

• Hours: 35 hours per week – Mon – Fri

• Location: Preston – temporary hybrid remote

• Salary: Competitive, dependant on experience.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Own, support and fully develop specific market sectors

• Conduct sales presentations by telephone, email or face to face to existing and prospective clients in order to develop existing business and generate new business wherever possible.

• Advise existing and new customers on the most effective solution to meet client needs within the Agriconnect portfolio.

• Continually seek and develop new sales & opportunities.

• Ability to accurately forecast future sales

• Keep abreast of all current trends, activities and relevant news within agriculture and specific sector

• An interest in agriculture

• Highly motivated & driven, with an ability to meet ambitious performance goals

Be enthusiastic and motivated to continually explore new opportunities, whilst possessing a natural inquisitive nature

• Excellent communication written and interpersonal skills

We offer an excellent package including:

• A competitive basic salary

• 25 days holiday increasing to 27 after two years

• An extra day off on your birthday

• Free life assurance

• Contributory pension scheme

• Employee assistance programme

Arc has ambitious plans for growth, and this is an opportunity to be part of our continuing success story whilst enjoying a fabulous work/life balance. We strive to create a culture that is open and respectful, where differences are valued and celebrated. We want everyone to be able to reach their full potential, so we are committed to cultivating a company that promotes inclusion and belonging.

To apply for this role, please email amber.tabiner@agriconnect.com

Senior Herdsperson - Exeter, Devon

Salary - £34,000 - £40,000 per annum, plus benefits Closing date - 22 Mar 2024

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Senior Herdsperson to join our team because we are taking on a second dairy farm tenancy in the spring as a joint venture with our current 2I-c. In Exeter.

Our farm Our farm is 153ha; we are a spring-block calving unit milking 300 grass-based cows in a 24/48 parlour. The cows are all NZ breeding, mainly Friesian cross Jersey and all our dairy replacements are reared on the farm. We also pasteurise and sell milk through a vending machine. We are 1 of 5 farms involved in an exciting 3-year project with LEAF, which is designed to develop and implement a range of sustainable integrated farming practices suited to our farm, overall addressing net zero and environmental enhancement. We are also Farmers Weekly Transition Farmers, sharing our experiences with methods to make our farm more sustainable for the future.

Your Role - As a Senior Herdsperson, you will be working closely with the business owners in the day-to-day running of the dairy herd. We fully expect someone to grow into this role as we teach the skills you require. One of the business owners is a farm vet and does regular focused learning sessions on different aspects throughout the year; staff are also sent on courses when required to support you and the farm’s progression.

You - We are looking for someone with a cheery nature and a love of cows to work with us to continue to take the farm forward. You’ll have good experience in dairy farming. Training will be given where necessary, but your values and behaviours are more important than your experience, and we are always happy to listen to new ideas!

The Benefits - In return, we can offer a 2-bedroom lodge with a garden, with a competitive salary depending on experience and a genuine commitment to your ongoing development and future in dairy farming.

• Company pension

• Housing allowance

• Free parking

• On-site parking

• Relocation assistance

For more information on any of these vacancies or to see all our current roles, please go to:

JobsInAgriculture.com

RVW Pugh

Field Service Engineer

RVW Pugh Group is a well-established agricultural dealer with over 40 years of experience. We supply an extensive range of Agricultural and Machinery across Shropshire, Cheshire, and Mid Wales.

The Group is made up of TR Machinery (selling the Fendt brand) and RVW Pugh (selling the Massey Ferguson brand).

Our leading franchises are Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Merlo, Teagle, plus many other leading brands.

With RVW Pugh Group’s continuing growth, we seek Agricultural Service Technicians to join our busy teams based at either Churchstoke on the Powys/Shropshire border, Holmes Chapel in Cheshire or our new depot in Newport Shropshire that is opening soon

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform diagnostics and repairs on agricultural equipment in a workshop and/or field environment.

• Complete all reports and administration required in a timely manner and to a high quality (job cards).

• Follow all safety rules and regulations. Complete all training programs to further develop skills and knowledge. Maintain a clean work environment, and assists with overall workshop organisation

ESSENTIAL SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Experience performing service repairs.

• Ability to perform repairs and maintenance using correct tools and equi ment, following approved techniques.

• Proficient knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.

• Ability to use standard computer applications, internet, and manufacturer service portals.

• Ability to operate vehicles and equipment used for diagnostic purposes.

• Good customer service skills.

• Familiar with manufacturer’s products.

• Ability to work well in a team environment.

• A full, clean driving license is essential for field roles.

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends on a rota basis

FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE, WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING:

• Stable working environment

• The opportunity to work as part of a well-established friendly team

• Van, laptop, and phone all provided

• Ongoing training

• Workwear provided

For more information on any of these vacancies or to see all our current roles, please go to: JobsInAgriculture.com

Recruiter Spotlight

Christopher Murray

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As Commercial Manager you will be responsible for leading and executing the sales and marketing strategies for the company and the role requires a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries coupled with excellent communication skills and a track record of commercialisation and business development.

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