Three young farmers from across the South West have been awarded places on a prestigious new training scheme run by the Co-operative Food Group.

The Co-op Farming Pioneers programme, launched on April 27th, will equip a hand-selected group of young farmers (aged between 21 and 35) supplying the Co-op, with the skills they need to be future leaders in the agricultural industry.

After a rigorous selection process, 20 delegates were chosen to take part in the training programme, from across the country and the agricultural sector. Three of the selected delegates live and work in the South West, Somerset based dairy farmer David Masters, from Wincanton, specialist calf-rearer Georgina Maidment from Wellington and beef producer Phil Pearse from Axminster in Devon.

The three ‘Farming Pioneers’ will take part in a free, in-depth training programme that will equip them with the knowledge, business skills and personal awareness to develop growing, resilient businesses, which will thrive in a fast changing world.

In total, the delegates will receive 20 days of specialist training, in two day slots, spread over two years. The training will involve intensive tuition on topics as diverse as business growth, negotiation skills and lean management. Over the life of the course they will meet leaders from across the supply chain, develop an understanding of key business principles and skills and visit real life case studies to see these principles in action.

Ciara Gorst, Senior Agriculture Manager, The Co-op Food said: “This is an extremely exciting initiative. These young people will have a chance to learn from some of the best in the industry, share their experiences, and adopt these principles in the businesses they have a stake in.

“They will be exposed to some high profile, challenging situations and we look forward to seeing them gain a range of new skills, build contacts which will last throughout their careers and watch them and their businesses develop as the programme progresses.”

Ciara continues: “The Co-op Farming Pioneers programme is part of our long-term commitment to supporting British agriculture, and an important part in developing our relationships, both present and future, with our farming supply base. We know delegates will gain huge insight into the business skills needed to compete on a world market and will complete the programme with a greater understanding of the whole supply chain and its relationship to value creation.”