Pig placement Q&A

Why did you pick the ForFarmers scholarship?

I came from a ruminant background and wanted to try something different on my placement year. Growing up surrounded by the agricultural industry I already knew how renowned ForFarmers were, and how invested they were in developing the next generation.

The scholarship offered from the AHDB with the placement motivated me to apply, it’s a fantastic addition to my CV, ensuring I stand out in the future. 

What kind of things did you do on placement? How much time of the job is in office and how much is out on farms?

I liked the variety of the job, no two days were the same and it’s a good mixture of office and on-farm. 

I spent time on farm weighing pigs, shadowed account managers on customer visits, ran a field quality trial, and a project on farm efficiencies. I also attended industry conferences and meetings with external companies.  

Office days often consisted of processing and reporting on the data you had collected on farm. I attended team meetings which are great for networking and learning what’s happening in the wider team. 

What are the typical working hours like whilst on placement?

Normal working hours are Monday – Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.

I managed my own time, as long as I was getting my work done and to a good standard, I could be flexible with my hours and where I was working. 

You get out what you put in and being flexible with your time and willing to travel means you’ll get a lot more from the placement.

How does accommodation work whilst on placement?

In advance of the placement you find your own accommodation, the job is based at the head office in Bury St Edmunds. The company offer lots of help and advice on the best places to live. Past students are a great source of knowledge on this too. 

There are other placement students in the area, so it’s a good idea to find someone to live with. It not only reduces costs but is helpful to have someone going through the same experience as you. If you’re new to the area there is so much to do and see in Suffolk and Norfolk, having a housemate/friend gives you someone to explore your new area with. 

When preparing to move to ForFarmers for the year how much contact did you get from the company before you started?

The contact with ForFarmers before I started was just the right amount. 

You’re supported from the very beginning, anything I needed there was help offered. 

How could the placement prepare me for my final year studies and post university careers; skills etc. that I would gain?

I learnt the importance of time management throughout my placement. This is really important for your final year when you have important deadlines and need to prioritise work efficiently. 

Placement year really allowed me to focus, I went back to Harper knowing what I wanted to do post-graduation and so I worked a lot harder. 

My time spent with marketing allowed my writing style to improve greatly, which benefited my assignments.

Depending on the topic you choose, your placement project can really prepare you for dissertation writing. You’ll go into final year not feeling so daunted by the thought of writing a dissertation.

How much experience/ knowledge of the pig industry would I need to apply for the placement?

I and many of the previous placement students had no pig experience and it makes no difference to the year you will have. 

ForFarmers will give you a rounded insight into the industry, you will learn so much and there are no stupid questions! 

What would you say ForFarmers is offering on their placement which other similar companies are not?

ForFarmers operates internationally, which gives you a brilliant opportunity to understand how the company and markets operate overseas. 

ForFarmers provides the opportunity to learn about a variety of species including poultry and game.

The people really make the experience, the pig team and all staff at ForFarmers are incredibly friendly and happy to help with anything you need. 

Is there much opportunity to be offered a post-graduation job with you following the placement and if so, would there be further opportunities to progress within the company in the long term?

Absolutely! I am currently 1 of 3 past placement students that have returned to various roles at ForFarmers after completing a placement year with them. 

I was offered a graduate role before I had even completed my placement year. To go back to university for your final year not having to worry about finding a graduate job is a fantastic feeling. This also meant that ForFarmers supported me with a final year scholarship which was a huge help.

Is there an opportunity to tailor the placement all over the year to my preferences?

Definitely! The placement exposes you to all aspects of the business, if there’s a particular area you think you’d like to spend more time in or find out more about it then you can just ask. 

Is the placement paid?

As well as receiving a £4,500 scholarship, the placement is paid.

A company car is also available to you when travelling. Provided with a company card to be used to pay for hotels and meal expenses.