Farming - Jobs and careers
Jobs and careers
There are four main areas regarding jobs and careers in agriculture.
- starting out
- graduate opportunities
- new business
- regional assistance
Starting out
New entrants -Fresh start initiative: an industry led initiative for those starting out in farming. Fresh Start offers advice and training and a mentoring and matching service for new and retiring farmers
Lantra: To obtain information about the many types of careers in the land-based sector you should visit Lantra’s website. Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for environment and land-based industries. The site includes the A Future In website which provides details of various career pathways, and includes the qualifications and skills needed by candidates.
Connexions: For people aged 13 -19 there is a service called Connexions which can provide information and advice on a range of careers. You can either search the Connexions website, contact them by email, phone, or talk to a Personal Advisor in your area.
Work experience is a good way of gaining valuable experience to help find a job and summer seasonal work can often lead to full-time job offers.
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. volunteering can also be a useful way of gaining experience and you can find specific countryside and related opportunities through the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.
Job Centre Plus: Advice on employment issues and job vacancies is also available from local job centres or the Job Centre Plus website.
Graduate opportunities
Napaeo: colleges specialising in land-based subjects offer a range of relevant courses in agriculture and related areas you should contact Napaeo – the association representing further education and higher education colleges – to find out what is available.
Following a higher qualification, you may need to gain practical experience in non-management positions before more responsible jobs are offered.
Growing Careers website points potential candidates to vacancies in the rural industries, including farming, horticulture, and elsewhere in the food chain. The usual route for pursuing a career in farm management is to gain a good training in technical agricultural production. This is normally followed by a specialist course in farm business management, combined with periods of work experience.
National Council for Work Experience has a database of work placement opportunities on its website, including positions in farming. Agricultural colleges with links to the local farming community can also often provide details of local work placements.
New business
Business Link: a wide range of practical advice and information on starting a new business is offered by the national Business Link network. The Business Link website has a section dedicated to agriculture, including guidance on regulation and training.
National Federation of Enterprise Agencies: further support to help plan, start and develop a business is available from the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies.
Specialist advisors and agricultural experts working with the High Street Banks can provide a range of financial advice and support.
Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE): female entrepreneurs might find it particularly useful to contact Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE), which offers a range of services.
Regional assistance
There is no national scheme to encourage new entrants into farming, but specific initiatives do exist in some regions. There are a number of regional initiatives to encourage new entrants to farming. A number of these are listed below. In addition, county councils may own a number of farms which they lease to tenants, providing a first opportunity for many people in agriculture.
The Head Land Agent, or equivalent, at your local county council or local authority will have further details.
Specific regional initiatives include:
- in Cornwall, the Cornwall Agricultural Council Fresh Start Scheme provides support to people entering the agricultural industries
- in north-west England, Farming Connect Cumbria provides advice and grants to encourage sustainable farming
- people under 45-years-old in rural Yorkshire and the Humber may benefit from the Growing Routes scheme which helps to set up rural businesses
- Local Business Links may have information about initiatives in your area.
See also
Contacts
- Defra helpline – 08459 33 55 77
Page last modified: 17 June 2008
Page published: 1 July 2006