Lydia Jones, third year BSc Agri-food Marketing with Business, has taken her placement year in her stride, achieving amazing results in her first term alone. Working for Original Biscuit Bakers, an artisan gingerbread bakery in Market Drayton, Lydia is part of the marketing and product development team working to curate and deliver original tasty treats.
Lydia came to Harper Adams through an extended degree programme. Not coming from a farming background but one in food, it was the perfect way for her to access a degree in not only something she was interested in, but a way to develop new skills too. Lydia commented on the varied nature of her degree saying, "I'm loving the agriculture aspect of my degree. It's completely different to anything else I've studied before.
"I've learnt lots about the supply chain where before my knowledge only came from the kitchen. Being able to have an understanding of food from all aspects - right from growth to consumption - means I can work in any part of the food industry."
Growing up wanting to be a chef, Lydia now has the diverse knowledge to work from field to fork in the food sector. In doing so, she gained her placement work experience at Original Biscuit Bakers, working with the existing team to design and sell new gingerbread biscuits. The treats can be found in John Lewis, Starbucks, the National Trust and smaller independent establishments.
However, Lydia's greatest success came from the shelves of Waitrose where her designed and marketed festive llama was found on shelves through the festive season. "It's so cool," she said, "I go shopping and see something I designed on the shelves. I don't think it will ever get old."
Happy National Christmas Lights Day ???
— Original Biscuit Bakers (@originalBBakers) December 1, 2019
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Anna the Christmas Llama is all dressed in fairy lights and is available to buy @waitrose now!?
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What are your Christmas lights traditions? Leave your comments below ??#gingerbread #handiced #icedbiscuits #handmade pic.twitter.com/s5XXOHKaL0
Working in office, out in the shops, and even on our campus running gingerbread design classes, Lydia is learning a great deal from her placement experience and is looking forward to getting back on to campus to take her food research further.
If you are looking to find a placement to achieve your goals like Lydia, you can search on our Placements and Careers page.
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