Society’s call to have a countryside career

For the sixth year, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society is running its Countryside Careers Day aimed at pupils from across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The event, which is on Tuesday, October 9 at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, offers students the chance to explore what opportunities are available for careers in the countryside – and find out what qualifications they will need to pursue their chosen path.

Hazel Baker, education adviser at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society – which organises the annual Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event Countryside Live – said 1,200 secondary school pupils took part in last year’s event.

Even more are expected to attend this year.

“The aim of our Countryside Careers Day is to introduce students, many of whom may have grown up in a city, to the wide range of careers that are linked to the countryside – careers that they might not necessarily have thought about,” she said.

Representatives from agricultural colleges across the region, including Askham Bryan in York, Bishop Burton near Beverley as well as those further afield, such as Myerscough College in Lancashire, will be giving students, aged 11 to 18, an insight into the courses on offer.

Exhibitors will also include companies that offer apprenticeships to young people wishing to pursue work in the countryside.

The event will showcase careers ranging from veterinary science to garden design and covering all aspects of farming, horticulture, construction, engineering, food and catering and country crafts.

New for 2012 will be food producer McCains and Yorkshire Water, along with Newton Rigg College in Cumbria, which will be showcasing gamekeeping and horticulture courses, and the Scottish Agricultural College.

The Grimsby Institute will be working with fish producer Young’s Seafood on a demonstration, while students will be able to visit the U-Explore stand to research land-based careers.

Throughout the day, representatives from a wide range of professions will be on hand to talk about their careers related to the countryside – including farmers, land agents, garden designers, wood workers, auctioneers, chefs and vets.

“The feedback from previous years has been very positive, and we are excited about this year’s event as we have attracted new colleges and organisations to the day,” said Mrs Baker.

“It’s all about opening the students’ eyes to the opportunities for careers related to the country-side.”