I started in policy services sitting with the economics team. I worked on various areas in this placement from HS2 member case studies to issues surrounding the lack of seasonal labour. I helped to organise the inaugural NFU Business Symposium which brought together more than 80 industry‑wide advisers, from bankers to land agents, to explore the risks and opportunities that lie ahead for the sector.
I attended the annual NFU conference, which is an experience I don’t think I’ll ever forget. It was truly amazing and brings to light the importance and strength of the organisation for its members.
In March I moved to food and farming and worked across various commodities, experiencing sector boards and the cascading structure of ideas that come from grassroots members. Two projects stand out to me from my second placement. The first was organising the successful IPM Summit that united combinable crops professionals, academics and farmers to showcase and champion the importance of using all the tools in the toolbox. The second project saw me spend 12 hours from 4am in a milk tanker collecting milk from Wales with a lovely tanker driver named Gordon! I followed the milk sample supply chain from start (milking) to finish (overnight shift in a laboratory) to aid the delivery of a briefing document and valuable infographic for dairy members. It was an incredible experience that I don’t think I’ll ever have the opportunity to do again.
All of these experiences helped give me grounding and preparation for joining the East Midlands office, which is where I am now working until March 2019. It’s amazing to get out to the region and see the importance of the wealth of knowledge and hard work at HQ being transferred and delivered at grassroots. Here I’m working on the delivery of the NFU East Midlands Brexit conference, which hopes to attract an audience of 300. I’m also working on a rural crime resource training guide for the police, and the revision of the Why Farming Matters in the Fens document, which I’m heavily involved in and have written a chapter about the future and the next generation.
The work really is varied, no matter which placement you are in. Both the support and freedom you get as a graduate is unprecedented. You are able and expected to get out and attend conferences, set up farm visits to increase your understanding, and network both internally and externally. »Ê¼Ò»ªÈËreally is a great place to work!