As one student, Claire Flower, completes the programme, the next, Charlotte Cunningham, has been selected to take part in a six month training programme as part of the Future Farming Academy (FFA).
The concept was developed as a result of the Future Farming Group identifying a need for highly skilled young people capable of fast-tracking to management positions within the agricultural industry.
The Academy was set up by professional bodies and employers from across the Agriculture sector who form the Future Farming Group (FFG). Now in its third year, the highly regarded training programme combines industry work placements with management, marketing and financial training to produce the highly trained candidates the industry is searching for.
Claire Flower, who graduated from the Academy in February this year, completed numerous work placements and industry days across the sector. Nick Green from Lye Cross Farm said,
“Claire worked with the Alvis Brothers Ltd team; she embraced the opportunity of experiencing all aspects of the business from milking cows and making cheese, to marketing and accounts. She was also fortunate to test her teaching skills by educating primary school children about farming and the environment. She was an asset to the Alvis business and just the type of young person the farming and food industry needs to secure a healthy future.”
Claire has since been invited to join the FFG and a mentoring package is being developed for her. On reflection of her experience, Claire said,
“The six month FFA programme provided me with invaluable experiences and greatly improved my knowledge of a wide range of agricultural industries. I found that all the businesses were extremely welcoming and honest and as such I enjoyed every day I spent on the programme. It is an opportunity that should not be missed and I would definitely recommend the FFA to any agricultural students at Bridgwater College.”
After a challenging interview process, Charlotte Cunningham was the selected candidate for the 2015 Academy. Mark Cox from Micron Bio-Systems said,
“Charlotte was an outstanding candidate and the best fit for the programme, which aims to develop agricultural experience and create future farmers.”
Charlotte’s programme will begin in June and include placements and industry days with leading agricultural organisations including M√ºller Wiseman Dairies, Micron Bio-Systems, Mole Valley, Alvis Bros Ltd and Uniform-Agri UK.
Charlotte, from Cullompton in Devon, is currently studying a Foundation Degree in Agricultural Management at Bridgwater College’s Cannington Centre said,
“I am very excited about taking part in the programme and working with some of the best in the industry. It’s great to see how much support and opportunities there are in agriculture even if you’re from a non-farming background.”
