Cereals 2014: Event aims to inspire youth to enter farming
A host of exciting career prospects will be outlined in the new Inspire pavilion at Cereals, which aims to encourage the next generation to make a career in a sector full of opportunities.
Jointly sponsored by De Lacy Executive, Massey Ferguson and McDonald’s, the Inspire pavilion offers a packed schedule of activities, including inspirational stories from young people already working in the fast-moving world of modern agriculture.
“The reality is that there are plenty of jobs across a vast range of very different agricultural fields,” says John Davies, chairman of recruitment agency De Lacy Executive. “While your first thought is of driving a tractor, managing a farm or milking cows, today it could be about robotics, genetic engineering or agri-technology.”
See also: Read more on this year’s Cereals event
Talks will cover the jobs market, how applicants can best market themselves, preparing a CV and getting ready for interviews.
“Attracting new talent and skills is crucial for securing the future of UK farming and we’re committed to supporting young people who want to break into the sector.”
Nina Prichard, McDonald’s agriculture consultant
The NFU publication #studentfarmer will run a session at midday each day. This will be followed by “Stories to inspire you”, featuring a range of panellists each with their own motivational success stories to tell.
“Attracting new talent and skills is crucial for securing the future of UK farming and we’re committed to supporting young people who want to break into the sector,” says McDonald’s agriculture consultant Nina Prichard. “The event will provide an insightful forum for young farmers.”
Massey Ferguson, part of AGCO, is working alongside young farmers and has already built relationships with CEJA, the European Council of Young Farmers. It is keen to do the same with young farmers in the UK.
“We need to attract young people into the industry – across all sectors – and show that farming offers a viable and sustainable career,” says Agco’s marketing services manager Ben Agar.
| Inspire Pavilion Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 11 June | Thursday 12 June | |
| 9.30 | Agri-business careers and how to get started John Davies, director, De Lacy Executive | From farm to front counter |
| 10.00 | The next generation – engaging with new farmers Campbell Scott, sales and engineering brand development, Massey Ferguson | Agri-business careers and how to get started John Davies, director, De Lacy Executive |
| 10.30 | From farm to front counter Lauren Holden, McDonald’s progressive young farmer | The next generation – engaging with new farmers Campbell Scott, Massey Ferguson |
| 11.00 | Break | Break |
| 11.30 | Social media workshop – how to make social media work in the jobs market Simon Haley, @AgriChatUK | Social media workshop – how to make social media work in the jobs market Simon Haley, @AgriChatUK |
| 12.00 | Student Farmer session – making your mark away from the family farm Chair: Emily Cole, editor, studentfarmer; Stephen Jones, University of Nottingham; James Mills, NFU combinable crops adviser | Student Farmer session – Entering the industry if you’re not from a farming background Chair: Emily Cole, editor, studentfarmer; Rebecca Wells, NFU Brussels office; Matthew Sharp, first generation farmer |
| 13.00 | Panel discussion: Stories to inspire you Panel includes Rebecca Watkins, Europe representative, International Youth Ag Summit board of directors and other speakers to be confirmed | Panel discussion: Stories to inspire you Panel includes Helen Reeve, beef farmer and teacher and other speakers to be confirmed |
| 13.45 | Break | Break |
| 14.00 | What job opportunities are really out there? How do I market myself (CVs, preparing for the interview, presenting myself) John Davies, director, De Lacy Executive | Into the food chain McDonald’s speaker to be confirmed |
| 14.30 | It’s a career, not just a job. Career progression, global vision – a world of experience Ben Agar, marketing services manager, UK and Ireland, Massey Ferguson | What job opportunities are really out there? How do I market myself (CVs, preparing for the interview, presenting myself) John Davies, director, De Lacy Executive |
| 15.00 | Into the food chain McDonald’s speaker to be confirmed | It’s a career, not just a job. Career progression, global vision – A world of experience Ben Agar, Massey Ferguson |
| 15.30 | End of sessions | End of sessions |
| 16.00 | McDonald’s reception for Oxford Farming Scholars | |
