Maddie Phillips – “The JIF Bursary has given me the opportunity and confidence that I need to follow my dream of pursuing a career in agriculture. Coming from a non-farming background; I have worked hard to ensure that I gain as much farm experience as I can, in a range of sectors, outside of term time.
I am currently working on an arable farm in Hampshire – learning new skills and hoping for better weather to keep the harvesting going! This experience, coupled with the ongoing support from Keith Norman and the John Innes Foundation, has provided me with the freedom to enter into this sector and play an active part in meeting the challenges that face modern farming today.
I cannot thank them enough for the help they have given me.”
Rory Lomas – “Coming from a non-farming background, the John Innes Foundation Bursary has helped me pursue my passion for Agriculture. From offering technical and career advice, to introducing me to an industry leading farm management company, the foundation has been instrumental in helping me progress my career.”
Alex Neason – ‘The JIF bursary has aided in the delivery of a stable, fulfilling and rewarding career which has taken me to different farming businesses all over the UK, widening my knowledge base and opening more opportunities’
Kirk Stamford – “The bursary allowed myself to be in a very unique and privileged position of having studied my chosen degree (Farm Management) at The Royal Agricultural University without having a student loan allowing myself to begin my career in the very best circumstances. I am now a Graduate Rural Surveyor also studying a Masters Degree simultaneously. Looking forward, there are many different paths open within the rural sector so I cannot say for definite which I will be on in the near or distant future, but either way, the bursary was the springboard for what I have achieved and any future career progression.”
Harry Goring – “The John Innes bursary made a significant difference to the beginning of my farm management career. The award really highlighted the fact that you do not necessarily need to come directly from a farming family to climb within the industry. Winning the award helped me consolidate my existing relationship with Velcourt and I’m now relishing the challenge of farm management within the company”
Charles Rogers – “The prestigious John Innes Foundation Bursary has allowed me to further develop my connections with agricultural businesses and focus more of my finances on improving my practical skills in the land based sector.”
Jake Hodgson – “Receiving the JIF Bursary has enabled me to access to a much greater range of opportunities and resources which would otherwise be near impossible to attain for individuals without a background in farming. In addition to such opportunities the attention and guidance I have received from JIF mentors has been invaluable in regards to both academic and career based decisions.”