Young People In Agriculture

Alice Pattinson – Assistant food Chain Advisor NFU

Having grown up on my family’s hill farm in Northumberland, I have always had a keen interest in agriculture production, thus choosing to study a degree at Harper Adams University College seemed a natural progression of my experiences to date. 

Opting to study a BSc (HONS) Agri-food Production with Marketing and Management degree, I was required to complete an industry placement.  I was successful in securing my placement at Tesco head office and joined the Meat Fish and Poultry Category as Agriculture Assistant. Working for the Agriculture Manager I was responsible for collating and coordinating the agriculture audits for all species, ensuring all suppliers conformed to the Tesco Livestock Codes of Practice.  Once I was fully up to speed with the livestock standards I undertook audits unaccompanied which proved extremely rewarding and fulfilling.

Other responsibilities included the organisation and management of the Tesco show stand at the Royal Highland Show, Royal Show and Royal Welsh, where we offered farmers hospitality and a chance to meet the Tesco Buyers to discuss current production issues.

I graduated from Harper Adams in 2005 with a 2:1 and was soon successful in securing a job at the National Farmers Union to work in the Food Chain and Farm Policy unit, advising on Food Chain issues.  Had it not been for the experience I gained at Tesco during my placement year, I would not have been selected for interview.

Looking back on my studies, a placement year with Tesco has given me the best start I could have hoped for in my career.  I developed a greater awareness of the agriculture supply chain and the demands of the market place in terms of standards, quality assurance and traceability. A year at Tesco head office has been truly instrumental in securing my current position at the NFU.