NatWest Placement Award winner: Dan Liddell

Dan Liddell won the NatWest prize for outstanding placement performance by a FdSc Agriculture student at the recent placement awards event 

Dan worked for A&M Turney & Sons in Warwickshire.

Placement Manager Terry Pickthall explains why Dan won: 

"This diverse family business farms over 2000 acres of arable land across 5 sites, provides contract services and grain storage to other farms and also has a successful farm consultancy business, run by Robin Turney, a Harper Adams graduate.

"The placement provides the opportunity to work in all the enterprises, spending July to November and then March to July on the arable side and the winter in the consultancy business.

"This is a unique placement and our winner threw himself into all aspects of it – from undertaking variable rate fertiliser application to assisting with writing of client’s business plans in preparation for grant applications. His marks and employer feedback were exceptional. Not bad for someone who, by his own admission “left school with mediocre A-level grades, as he was too busy looking out the window and playing sports”. After spending several years working overseas, he took up his university journey in his 20s and has clearly found a study area that suits him.

"He has successfully transferred to our BSc course, secured the Studley College Trust Scholarship and completed his placement year having developed both his technical and professional skills. His placement had confirmed his career plan to become a farm business consultant to help farmers succeed in becoming more profitable and sustainable.

"Congratulations Dan!"