Getting Started

I feel that so much pressure is put on young people not to make the wrong choice with their career, but hopefully you can see from my story that all experience counts, especially in an industry like agriculture which is continually striving to reflect, adapt, learn, and improve.

Working within the agriculture sector means you are constantly moving and have to adapt to change so quickly. It’s fun but but it’s not just about muck on wellies, there are so many areas to explore. The opportunities are endless. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

‘I had no intention of pursuing a career in agricultural journalism, but when I saw Farmers Guardian was recruiting for a reporter based in London, I knew I had to go for it.’

With farming often viewed as a career for life, the need to upskill employees to increase motivation or improve staff retention has become a widely accepted concept. Hannah Binns reports.

Share farming is increasingly popular for people wanting to get a foot on the farming ladder, as well as those struggling with succession. Ruth Wills looks at some of the options.

Employing students is not just of benefit to the student, securing valuable experience to launch a career after graduation. Clemmie Gleeson speaks to an estate manager and farm owner who believe students bring welcome gains to their enterprises, and to the students who benefited from their commitment.

Helping to motivate, inspire and guide staff to achieve their best can help a farm business thrive. In the first of a two-part feature, Clemmie Gleeson speaks to two farmers who, although from different sectors and backgrounds, let their staff know what they do matters and is appreciated.

An innovative approach, together with investment, has been central to success for first-generation dairy farmers Liam and Annie James. Barry Alston reports.

Staff are the key to any business, but why can farmers, who are also employers, be sometimes reluctant to secure the best team around them? And why is it so important to a business’ bottom line? Clemmie Gleeson finds out more.