Two new student scholarships are being made available at Harper Adams University, paid for by ABN.
The British manufacturer of pig and poultry feed is on the lookout for two talented students to take part in a 12 month paid industry scholarship placement. The scheme gives students the opportunity to gain vital on-farm experience before moving to work in-house within ABN’s own divisions.
Danny Johnson, Commercial Director at ABN, said: “We believe ABN, and other businesses like us, have an important role to play to encourage younger people into the industry. There’s a wealth of new talent out there and scholarships and placements like this are the ideal way we can share our expertise and show the next generation just how many different roles there are available to them.
“We’ve had some fantastic students undertake the placements, they’ve become a real part of the team and have brought new ideas into the business themselves. What’s really stood out to me is those we welcome don’t necessarily have a background in agriculture, but they’re all enthusiastic and hard working.
“We’re delighted to be once again running the pig and poultry placements and working with Harper Adams University to help some young people get a head start in their careers. We are looking for team players and innovative thinkers and in return, successful applicants will experience an invaluable year which will build their knowledge of the pig and poultry industries and key business competencies, as well as gain vital experience which is so sought after in the increasingly competitive graduate job market.”
During the 12-month placement, students will also benefit from the following:
- Salary of £16,500
- 25 days of annual leave
- Line management and mentoring
Combining on-farm and industry experience, the placements see time split evenly between different areas, taking participants through every aspect of the industry.
The successful candidates will firstly gain hands-on experience, learning the practical day-to-day operations of a working farm, before moving into the ABN business for the remaining months. During this final phase, students will gain experience in many aspects of the business, including customer support, nutrition and formulations.
Students will also have the chance to work with other companies that operate under AB Agri, ABN’s parent company, in order to broaden their understanding of the industry as a whole.
David Tunks, who is currently completing the poultry placement said: “I was so grateful to get onto the placement with ABN. I chose them because they place a lot of focus on teaching us the science behind why we do, what we do. All my peers have worked on farms before, but this placement shows you there is more than meets the eye on-farm, and gives you a chance to do a lot more of the technical aspects. It has been hugely beneficial to my poultry knowledge so far and I can’t wait to get stuck into what the rest of the placement involves.”
Applications for students interested in completing a placement in either the pig or poultry sector are now live on the Harper Adams placement portal and will close on Friday, November 15.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/apply/finance/scholarships/scholarship/201187/abn-poultry-scholarship
