Careers in agriculture showcased in new event for secondary pupils

Secondary school and college pupils have today been given an insight into land-based careers at a new event at the Pavilions of Harrogate.
Agritunity brought together pupils from schools and colleges from across the region and 25 businesses to explore the breadth of opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the event was sponsored by AHDB, Co-op, GSC Grays and McCain.

Yorkshire Agricultural Society manager David Tite said: “Agritunity has been an important event in inspiring and encouraging the next generation into the agricultural industry.

“We see new technologies and methodologies emerging every year which need IT experts, accountants, solicitors, managers, feed experts, soil specialists and all kinds of other skills to be implemented.

“This event was designed to showcase those opportunities, including cutting-edge STEM applications such as finance, engineering and research, many of which are attractive to young people.”

James Bush, director and head of Farm Business at GSC Grays, said: “We are proud to support Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s inaugural Agritunity event and to work alongside an initiative that plays a vital role in strengthening the future of the rural economy. We believe Agritunity provides an important platform for businesses to engage directly with young people, highlighting the breadth of professional opportunities across agriculture, land management and related sectors.

The pupils, from years 8-13, took part in four workshops and an industry insight talk before a free session to explore anything that had sparked their interest further.

They were able to try their skills on a mechanical racehorse, get hands-on with fleeces, find out about wi-fi connected agricultural vehicles and see how wildfires could be tackled.

The workshops were delivered by businesses and organisations working across a huge variety of land-based subjects and explained the many routes into an industry which is at the cutting-edge of innovations in machinery and technology, science and engineering, and rural entrepreneurship.
Topics included food production and supply chains, agricultural technology, environmental management, animal health, engineering and rural business.

Among teachers attending with their schools was Amy Congreve of Hallcross Academy in Doncaster who said the event had proved an eye-opener to some of the pupils whose access to the agricultural sector was limited, giving them a raft of different career ideas. Hayley Bontoft of Land Manners School in the Peak District, which has its own farming club, said: “We try to make sure we understand, celebrate and appreciate our farming students but there is no agricultural education in our area so this was a great opportunity to raise their aspirations.”

Muller, in conjunction with the Co-op, was one of the businesses taking part in the event. Andrew Bell, who works with farmers on behalf of Muller, said he felt it was difficult for young people to get into the agricultural industry, so Agritunity was a welcome innovation. Muller offered a wide range of career opportunities, from manufacturing, engineering, HGV driving and supply chain management to laboratory and veterinary technicians which it had been able to showcase.