John Longwill Agricultural scholar: Lauren Wells

Lauren Wells, fourth year BSc Business Management and Marketing student and recipient of the John Longwill Agricultural Scholarship.

“Growing up in an agricultural family with my mother being a farm secretary and my father being a dairy herd manager, I knew how fascinating the agricultural industry was. However, it highlighted that it was a tough industry and you either sank or swam. I felt that this scholarship would be of a high benefit to myself, as I could develop skills that agricultural sectors could really benefit from”, says Lauren, 21.

“I have always been shown the highlights as well as the drawbacks of the agricultural industry. With family in the dairy industry, I feel proud of the dedication to the industry which makes me want to help make a difference. Working on relatives’ farms has shown me how different operations can give great results and has furthered my motivation.

“I am so proud to be a John Longwill scholar, as I have been given the opportunity in a testing industry to provide essential skills to help local agricultural machinery businesses develop and evolve. The interview process was interesting, as I got to learn about a trustee’s business and knowledge.”

The scholarship funding allows Lauren to focus further on the areas of her studies which have most captured her imagination. “Through different modules on my academic course, I have taken a strong interest into supply chain management and logistics. Both topic areas are very contemporary issues within the agricultural machinery sector. Consumer demand for agricultural spares is increasing, whilst for manufacturers, meeting this demand is becoming more challenging. This is highlighting an issue which needs to be addressed to keep farm machines working in a timely manner, when it matters.”

Lauren, from Wymeswold, Leicestershire, is taking forward some of her key interests in the sector as part of her Honours Research Project. “I have decided to look at how demand for agricultural spares is likely to change due to different factors, including economic and political. I feel that this direction of investigation will help to provide recommendations into how businesses can combat these issues and have solutions to improve outcomes in the face of upcoming threats.

“By drawing conclusions, I can help agricultural machinery businesses which I look to work with eliminate these issues and turn them into opportunities.”