GSC Grays Farm Business Graduate Recruitment 2023

THE RURAL LAND & PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

GSC Grays is a firm of chartered surveyors, land and estate agents operating throughout the UK, but principally within the North of England.

We offer a fresh, dynamic and professional approach when it comes to providing clients with expertise and practical advice that they can rely on. We are driven to exceed client expectations and achieve the best outcome. We are excited about what we do.

Our people are our greatest asset - we are connected by a passion for the countryside and supporting the rural communities in which we live and work. We are proud of what we achieve together and we want you to be part of it.

We have built an exceptional reputation through our service and results over the last 11 years, which has led to the significant and rapid growth of the business. It’s important to us that we continue to foster the next generation, which is why we offer opportunities for graduates to gain invaluable and hands on experience with us.

We want to provide you with a snapshot of the work we do and what you can expect to be part of in 2023 and beyond. I hope that this provides you with the inspiration and desire to apply for one of our roles.

THE ROLES ON OFFER

TRAINEE FARM BUSINESS CONSULTANTS

Due to the continued growth of the business, we are looking to recruit Trainee Farm Business Consultants to join our Farm Business Departments at Alnwick, Boroughbridge, Chesterle-Street, Colburn, Driffield, Kendal and Penrith.

This is an excellent opportunity for graduate students seeking a career within the rural sector whilst also making a meaningful contribution to the growth and development of an expanding business. Commitment and hard work will be rewarded.

The roles will be to work as part of a dynamic team and will require someone who is hard working and personable. You must be comfortable with a relatively high degree of autonomy and capable of completing work on time and to the highest of standards.

The opportunities offer a mix of challenging and rewarding professional work on behalf of private clients which will encompass a broad range of competencies.

The successful candidates will be involved in a diverse range of work for farming clients including Farm Management, Farm Business Reviews including the preparation of Budgets and Cashflows, Contract Farming and Share Farming agreements, Basic Payment, Environmental Stewardship and Cross Compliance advice. In addition, the expectation is that each consultant will have an opportunity to develop a technical specialism in areas such as Dairy, Beef & Sheep or the Environment.

The company has a strong commitment to the training of its staff which will complement the broad experience offered.

The successful candidate is expected to have a mix of professional interests and a sound understanding of agriculture and the countryside.

The salary will be competitive, and candidates will be expected to start in summer 2023.

WE RECRUIT THE BEST

The company has been extremely welcoming and supportive during the onboarding period. I am currently about to enter my fourth week and have already gained valuable experience having been involved with tasks such as farm budgeting, cropping plans, Countryside Stewardship agreements and Sustainable Farming Incentive applications, working both independently and as part of the wider Farm Business team. There has also been a number of social events, creating a friendly and positive atmosphere, which has allowed me to meet people from different teams and offices.

I have also been lucky enough to join at the very start of the Future Farming Resilience Fund project, which is an exciting time for the company and will give me the opportunity to provide support and guidance to individual farm businesses during this evolutionary period for British agriculture.

I look forward to expanding my knowledge and experience further through the GSC Grays graduate programme, which will provide insights into the different sectors within agriculture, as well as financial training, which will support me in gaining professional qualifications; something I am keen to take advantage of.

It’s been a great start to working life and I look forward to what the future brings.”

“Having graduated from Newcastle University in 2022 I decided to dive straight into work securing the role of Graduate Farm Business Consultant with GSC Grays.

LAUREN Business

“Having graduated from Harper Adams University in 2017, I decided to take a year out to work, travel and play rugby in New Zealand & Australia, before joining GSC Grays in September 2018.

I first made contact with GSC Grays at the Harper Adams Graduate Fair in Autumn 2016, where I was fortunate enough to secure a week’s work experience, before setting off on my travels.

During my week with GSC Grays, I was allowed a real insight into the work the business is involved with and to meet some of the team. I was also able to present myself outside of an interview environment. This approach worked to my advantage, as I was fortunate enough to be offered a role with GSC Grays on my return to the UK. I was delighted to accept, knowing I was joining a fun, forward thinking and growing business.

GSC Grays have a strong work ethic towards encouraging and supporting graduates to develop their careers. Having joined as a Graduate Surveyor working in the Estate Management Department, I was strongly supported throughout the APC/CAAV process, qualifying in both aspects by May 2020. I have since moved into the Farm Business team and worked my way up to the position of Senior Farm Business Consultant.

I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had and look forward to continuing my development within the company.”

WILL SMITH Senior Farm Business Consultant

“Following the conclusion of my studies at the Royal Agricultural University in 2021, I returned north to join GSC Grays as a Graduate Farm Business Consultant in the July of that year.

Since joining the Farm Business Department at GSC Grays, my knowledge and understanding of farm business management and finances have developed significantly. I have been involved in a wide range of work, from day-to-day farm business consultancy and financial monitoring to more significant budgeting exercises supporting lending requests for the likes of greenfield poultry units and dairy herd expansions.

Whilst I joined the company with the intention of focusing largely on working with dairy clients, I have also had opportunities to diversify my work, particularly into the poultry sector and through collaboration with the Environmental & Sustainability department.

The opportunities presented to me in my first year have developed my abilities significantly, and in August 2022 I progressed to the position of Farm Business Consultant.

Now into my second year with GSC Grays, I look forward to building my experience further and working towards greater direct involvement with clients.”

JAKE NIXON Farm Business Consultant

OUR APPROACH TO TRAINING

We take the development of our people seriously. Drawing on our in-house expertise and wider industry contacts, Farm Business graduates can expect a thorough programme of training delivered in a variety of ways.

Structured training sessions will be provided by senior staff members within the department/wider business or by outside organisations, where appropriate. To benefit fully from the expertise within the department secondments to other offices may be available. Graduates will also attend all relevant department meetings where further training may also be delivered. This will include seasonal training, for example, BPS and Countryside Stewardship.

Over the course of the training programme graduates will adopt a ‘pet’ farm business which they will use to apply their learnt knowledge, with assistance from colleagues where required. At the end of the training programme graduates will present the business and their work relating to it, to the wider department. The process is designed to provide graduates with a base knowledge of core areas of work undertaken by the department and the main enterprise types that the department advise on.

Further training opportunities are encouraged and supported; current department staff hold a number of additional qualifications including (but not limited to): 897630

CAREER PROGRESSION ON MERIT

JOHN WALLIS Rural Director HELEN SIMPSON Rural Associate Director

APR 2013 Whilst working for a farm building fabricator John does a week’s work experience with the Sporting Director at the Leyburn office.

JULY 2013 Takes up position as Assistant Land Agent with GSC Grays - Leyburn.

SEPT 2013 Enrol on Distance Learning Rural Surveying diploma through the College of Estate Management alongside role at GSC Grays.

APR 2014 Working under the Sporting Director, John is given responsibility to aid the management of a large number of diverse estates across the North of England.

JULY 2015 Complete Rural Surveying Diploma and promoted to Graduate Surveyor at GSC Grays - Richmond.

DEC 2015 John is given the responsibility to lead on the management of a 10,000 acre estate near Barnard Castle, reporting directly to the client.

SEPT 2016 Sam Cole starts his placement position as John’s assistant.

MAY 2017 Passed APC on first sitting and promoted to Rural Surveyor.

SEPT 2017 Through a GSC Grays contract, John is offered the role of Estate Manager for the Raby Estate in County Durham, based in their Estate Office at Staindrop

APR 2018 John is made an Associate Director of the Professional Services Board at GSC Grays.

AUG 2019 John is made Rural Associate Director.

JAN 2020 John moves to the Easingwold office to help build the Southern Land Agency team.

APR 2020 Rory Hodgson joins GSC Grays as Graduate Surveyor working in John’s team.

OCT 2020 John takes on the responsibility for a number of large renewable energy projects in the North of England alongside his existing estate management roles.

NOV 2020 John is made Rural Director.

MAR 2022 Will Pheasey joins John’s team as a Qualified Surveyor.

APR 2022 John is made Chair of the Estate Management, Rural Land & Business and Sporting Board.

AUG 2010 Whilst at sixth form Helen undertakes a week’s work experience with the Company Chairman.

JULY 2015 Helen graduates from Harper Adams University and takes up a position as a Graduate Surveyor based at the Lambton Estate Office.

JAN 2016 Working under the Chairman, Helen is given responsibility to aid the management of a number of estates within County Durham & Cumbria.

NOV 2016 Helen passes the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) examinations.

FEB 2017 Helen moves to the Colburn office to assist the Managing Director and a Director with the day to day management of rural estates in County Durham and North Yorkshire as well as assisting with general professional work.

SEPT 2017 Helen is given responsibility to lead with the management of the residential property portfolio on a large rural estate in East Yorkshire, reporting directly to the client.

NOV 2017 Helen passes her RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) on first sitting and is promoted to Rural Surveyor.

MAY 2018 The Estate Management Department take on the management of a 1,000 acre estate in North Yorkshire. Helen reports to a Director as well as directly to the client.

FEB 2019 Helen moves to the Easingwold office, continuing to focus predominantly on Estate Management work within North and East Yorkshire.

NOV 2020 Helen is made Senior Surveyor.

FEB 2021 Helen is instructed to manage a private landlords residential property portfolio in North Yorkshire.

JUNE 2022 Helen takes on the management of two further residential property portfolios and moves to the Boroughbridge office to continue to develop business in North and East Yorkshire.

AUG 2022 Helen is made a Rural Associate Director.

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD!

There are many opportunities to take part in staff socials, whether as part of a company-wide event, or organised by individual offices and/or teams.