Duchy College has beaten the likes of Waitrose to take home the national Feeding Britain’s Future employer award.

The college, which is part of the Cornwall College Group, was nominated for the award for running a two-week programme to give young unemployed people an experience of farming.

Participants had a week of practical training at the college, including tractor driving and working with livestock, before undertaking a week of work experience on local farms.

Jane Milligan, an employment adviser at the Department of Work and Pensions, nominated the project’s leaders, Roger Clarke (pictured centre), the team leader for work-based agriculture, and skills tutor Andrea Hickman, for the award.

“Roger and Andrea were open to supporting the group to realising their individual potential, regardless of their backgrounds, previous history, achievements or lack of,” she said. “Each was given a chance to be an individual and a chance to shine and learn new skills in a fully supported environment.”

The awards are run by the DWP in partnership with the Institute of Grocery Distribution.

“This programme really does help to get the basic skills in place in order get a foot on the ladder and to start a career within the sector,”

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *