NFU Graduate Scheme
Agricultural Policy
What you can expect from the NFU Agricultural
Policy
Graduate Scheme
When you join the NFU’s Policy Graduate scheme you will be joining a
team committed to championing the future of UK farming and
food production.
As a policy graduate you will join a unique network with unrivalled
access to policy makers across the EU and UK.
This high quality programme will broaden your horizons and give
you the knowledge and experience to develop for the good of our
members and your own career. You will be provided with:
•
A range of placements that will take you across England, Wales and
potentially Brussels. You’ll get a two week induction programme at
our HQ (in Warwickshire), meeting key staff and getting to know
more about the NFU before you head out on your first placement.
•
A range of assignment briefs that will challenge and develop your
skill set, and give you the chance to work with and learn from
industry specialists.
•
Full support and guidance whilst on placement from a placement
manager and a mentor.
We like to grow our own talent and previous graduates are now in
key positions, advising members, developing policy and building their
profiles in an innovative and vital industry.
Previously graduates have taken an active role in aiding the
development of NFU Policy. This has included:
•
Helping to plan our inaugural Environment Conference in
Westminster attended by the DEFRA Minister.
•
Developing case studies to demonstrate how the NFU achieves
its net zero ambition for Farming.
•
Taken an active role in key issues such as campylobacter, Avian
Influenza, HS2 and rural flood risk.
Who we are and what we do
The National Farmers’ Union is a
trade association, created for and
run by its members. We have been at
the forefront of agricultural and
rural issues for more than 100 years.
We are the voice of British farming.
We have 55,000 members in
England and Wales. The NFU’s
strength continues to derive from
members who make their living
from the industry.
We aim to continue to protect and
preserve the reputation of British
farming, promote and campaign
on our key lobbying priorities and
to ensure that the British public
continue to Back British Farming.
Influencing policy and legislation
that matters to farming is at the
heart of what we do. Whether it is
in Brussels, London or Cardiff,
decisions taken by legislators and
regulators make a real difference
for farming, the countryside and
consumers.
Where you will go
We want to provide our graduates with a rounded view
of the NFU, so we will arrange placements across as
many areas of the organisation as possible. Typically,
placements will involve time in both our HQ (in
Warwickshire) and in one of our Regional Offices.
Where possible, time in our Brussels and London
offices will be arranged to provide a fully national and
international perspective on policy making. Placements
can last between 3 and 6 months, and you should be
prepared to move location with each placement.
Your Assignments
During the 2 year programme you will:
•
Work alongside and be mentored by our policy
specialists in Stoneleigh, Builth Wells, Brussels or the
English regions.
•
Gain experience from a number of challenging
projects across the NFU. These projects could range
from cross-sector topics such as environment to
food safety, animal welfare to tenancies, or through a
particular sector commodity such as arable, dairy,
horticulture etc.
•
Research and report on current and new
challenges facing farm businesses.
•
Develop your own networks, make presentations and
produce clear and succinct reports for a variety of
audiences.
•
Learn about the food and farming industry.
In return we are looking for candidates who are
enthusiastic about food and farming, who regularly show
initiative, who relish meeting new people and tackling
new situations, who enjoy researching around a topic
and who write and present well to a variety of audiences.
How we will support you
•
You will have 1-to-1 support from your placement
manager through the practicalities of the day job.
•
You will have access to a £2,000 relocation fund, in
addition to a starting salary of £24,500 per
annum. This relocation fund is specifically on offer
to provide some help in that time between
placements, where you need to up sticks and move. It
can help with the cost of house-hunting, short- term
accommodation (it is not designed to cover rent) and
travel expenses. You should note the fund is available
as and when required and would be made available
at the time of need against a specific claim.
•
As a welcome to the NFU you will receive a one off
graduate entry scheme payment of £1,000.
How to Apply
Visit
:
www.nfuonline.com/careers/
Closing Date
:
09 January 2022
If you have any questions on any of the above,
please call our HR team on 024 7685 8500 or email
hr@nfu.org.uk.
