Move to attract the high-flyers to sector

Farming leaders want to make the industry more appealing to top level graduates and high-flyers and will showcase the range of opportunities that the sector can offer.

In a bid to entice more people into the farming and food industries The Food and Farming Forum for Yorkshire and the Humber will be highlighting career avenues in research, technology and land management.

It will be hosted at Askham Bryan College near York next month with a number of top regional businesses expected to attend.

Deborah Hare, project manager, told the Yorkshire Post: "We felt it was needed for the food and farming industries in the region to try and inform careers advisers about the highly skilled opportunities in the industry.

"As an industry we have a constant need to attract talented individuals to drive both the sector and the regional economy forward."

Careers advisers and teachers across Yorkshire are being invited to attend the event, which is free, on Thursday, November 4.

The event will be based around four themes; Farm to Fork, Going Green, Social Responsibility and Science and Business. Its overarching title will be A Future in Food, Farming and the Environment.

A number of regional businesses will be present to share their knowledge and experience, ranging from McCain Foods to Stockbridge Technology Centre to the Regional Food Group.

Throughout the day, delegates will be shown areas of the college farm and facilities allowing them to see the theory put into practice.

A spokeswoman said that delegates will gain a greater understanding of what the themes mean in the industry and the career opportunities available.

Harrogate farmer Steve Willis, who is the chairman of the Food and Farming Forum for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "This is a great chance for careers advisers to discover first hand about the highly skilled opportunities available, from supply chain (including production, processing and retailing), research, business development and innovation, to green jobs, green technology and land management.

"It's particularly the graduates and high-flyers we want to encourage to join the industry and our aim is for this conference to inspire advisers to take back that message to students."

The Food and Farming Forum was set up with the remit of working towards an "integrated, sustainable development in the farming and food industry". It is supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live.

For further information or to register contact Deborah Hare on 07702598 108 or email [email protected]

CW 9/10/10