How about. a Career in. agriculture? This publication has been supported by The Skills Show, The European Social Fund and the National Careers Service

Transcription

1 How about a Career in agriculture? This publication has been supported by The Skills Show, The European Social Fund and the National Careers Service

2 Wondering what career opportunities there are in the agriculture sector? There are tremendous opportunities for people of all ages in the agricultural sector. The farming, food and drink sector is responsible for 3.5 million jobs and 7% of the UK s overall economy so the UK needs to produce more food, not just for economic growth but also to feed the growing world population. The average age of farmers is rising so there is a real need for people with passion and enthusiasm to enter the industry. Do you want to help the country and the world? Great Britain and the rest of the world needs to get better at producing food in efficient ways. Farmers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers all have a part to play in reducing waste and using resources effectively. Agriculture need to be at the very heart of this. Many farmers are their own boss and the great outdoors is their office. As long as you work hard, there are many opportunities to develop your career. Lots of training is available at all levels and the opportunity to learn as you earn is another great reason to get involved in this industry. Hear directly from an apprentice what its like to work in the sector.

3 Frequently asked questions What is agriculture? Agriculture, also known as farming is the cultivation of plants, animals and other life forms of food, fibre, biofuel, medicinal crops and other products used to support and enhance human life. The view of farming tends to be outdated. 25 years ago there was a lot of labouring jobs that were low paid and low tech. Whilst there are still jobs around like this, it s fair to say that a high percentage of career opportunities are now very different. Where could I work? The UK is suffering from a real skills shortage at the moment but the truth is, the skills that you will learn can be used anywhere in the world and many student farmers gain experiences in other parts of the world to help shape their overall career development. What s it like working in the sector? The sector is changing at a fast pace with many challenges relating to the environment and sustainability shaping the way people work. New processes are being developed and new products are coming on the market meaning new skills will be in demand. How much could I earn? The average annual salary for people who work on farms is 25,578. More than 30% earned between 20,000 and 30,000.The biggest earners in related businesses were technical managers at 40,111. In addition to your salary, accommodation is often offered as part of your job role. * How can I get into the agriculture sector? There are a range of qualifications that you can get involved in from level one option s through to degrees. Apprenticeships are also another popular option combining work and study. Many farmers have seasonal opportunities for young people interested in a career in this industry therefore another good way of getting involved is to approach businesses directly to find out about possible jobs. *Farmers Weekly 2014 Image credit: Cambridge Regional College

4 Myths and stereotypes Myth farming is a male dominated industry and not for women Reality More and more female workers are getting involved in a variety of roles. Farming is a great career for anyone. Whoever you are or whatever your background there will be opportunities for you in this industry. Myth farming is old fashioned and all about driving tractors and striding around in wellies. Reality Farming incorporates an array of different careers and even if you are driving a tractor and wearing wellies, this is now far more of a skilled job than it used to be with tractors being equipped with the latest cutting edge technology and costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. Agricultural equipment increasingly incorporates elements of data analytics, GPS and remote sensing in a race to make farming more precise. Myth farming is for rich people Reality Farming is not for a specific type of person although often depicted in the media for rich people, farming is for anyone who wants to work hard and make a positive impact on the world. Image credit: Cambridge Regional College Image credit: Easton and Otley College

5 What could I do? Agricultural Communications Farm News Reporter, Public Relations Representative Advertising Specialist Marketing Manager Communications Manager Regional Sales Manager Account Manager Agricultural Economics Grain Broker Farm and Land Appraiser Resource Economist Consultant Agricultural Policy Analyst Insurance Agent Food Distribution Manager Agricultural Education Education Specialist Education Supervisor Farm Management Soil Conservationist Extension Advisor Agricultural Engineering Structural Engineer Irrigation Engineer Waste Handling Food Engineer Bioprocessing Engineer Machine Design Engineer Agronomy/Soils soil management and crop production Crop Specialist Soil Scientist Fertiliser Sales Representative Plant Breeder Plant Geneticist Soil Conservationist Soil Surveyor Farm Supply Representative Animal Sciences Livestock production manager Feed Sales/Management Livestock Procurement Livestock Insurance Representative Vet Farm Management Stable Management Labourer Animal Scientist, Animal Geneticist Food Science Food Product Research and Development Quality Assurance Food Chemist Food Microbiologist Food Manufacturing Food Researcher Image credit: Clare Banks Photos

6 Other sources of information National Farmers Union (NFU) champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its Farmers. LANTRA is the sector skills council for Agriculture providing careers and job information. National Careers Service provides impartial careers advice so if you re looking for the right course, help with your CV or need to know where to go next contact them on or at Think an apprenticeship might be the route for you? Contact the Apprenticeship Service and see all the latest vacancies live in your area. The Skills Show Experience forms part of the European Social Fund Technical Assistance project, awarded to the Skills Funding Agency to promote the European Social Fund. In addition, the programme is co-funded by the Skills Funding Agency to deliver the National Careers Service at the events. Working in partnership with The Skills Show premier sponsors City & Guilds, the Edge Foundation and Premier Colleges, The Skills Show Experience provides young people with opportunities to discover what they are good at and what they enjoy, through interactive activities and experiences helping shape their futures and transform their lives. ACER is grateful to all the colleges that have supplied images for inclusion in these printed materials.