Charlie Beaty: Grab opportunities while you’re young

I like to think I’m pretty good at taking opportunities.

I’m probably one of those annoying people who wants to have a go at everything, I never like to have too much free time (alright, what I’m trying to say is that sometimes I need to learn to say “No”).

While there are plenty of careers and jobs within agriculture, we all know how hard it is to get your hands on land nowadays, and that’s without even considering the cash required for rent or a deposit, followed by the assets for a business.

About the author

Charlie Beaty

Harper Adams University graduate Charlie has a keen interest in the livestock sector, being heavily involved in the beef and sheep enterprises at home, as well as the arable and contracting side of things. The 25-year-old is an active member of Warwickshire YFC and loves travelling the world.

Read more articles by Charlie Beaty

But there are programmes to help you get your foot in the door. This past week I’ve been away from the farm for three days (“what, in September?”, I hear you say), networking with other young people as part of the Tesco Future Farmer Foundation.

See also: Charlie Beaty – alpaca fight could prove defining for farming

I am one of nearly 50 people making up the eighth intake of the foundation, which offers mentoring, networking, access to training funds and much more.

Last week was our first workshop in person, after months of Zoom meetings. We had a personal development session, team-building and finance talks from the head of Natwest’s agricultural team, as well as a handful of fantastic speakers.

But the biggest thing I’ve taken from it so far is the plethora of contacts in the form of my peers on the course.

Supply chain visits

It is open to those aged 18-35, and covers marketing, business planning and succession, to name just a few topics. You also get the opportunity to attend a vast range of supply chain visits, including farm and factory tours.

There are other opportunities as well as this one, too. You could make the most of the travel offered by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, or apply to be part of the Just Farmers media training programme.

If you’re looking to start up or develop a business, there’s the Henry Plumb Foundation.

As the youngsters of the industry, our turn to spend every waking hour working on the farm will come. Now is the time to make the most of opportunities like these.

Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity – we’d all do well to remember that.