Land Management Careers Fair

Posted 24 November 2010

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Harper Adams Land Management students have been meeting with a range of different companies all looking for placement and graduate positions to be filled.

The annual Land Management Careers and Placement Fair was held this week at the West Midlands Regional Food Academy based at the Shropshire University College campus.

Around 20 companies and organisations were at the fair to chat to students about opportunities they could offer to those looking for employment through their sandwich year and to those in their final year looking for their first graduate positions.

David Jasper, Senior Rural Enterprise and Land Management (REALM) Lecturer and Placement Manager opened the event and said: “It’s pleasing to see so many potential employers here to support Harper Adams. I am sure you will meet some very talented students here today.”

Simon Keeble, Senior Lecturer and REALM Course Manager, said: “Thank you very much for coming here, we really do require your support in taking on graduates and placement students.

“Last year we had a 97.6per cent employability rate and the two years before 100per cent of students were employed within six months of leaving the college and we feel that’s because of the placement year.”

Former REALM student Sam Catling, 25, of Chipping Norton, graduated from Harper Adams this year. He is now working as a Professional Assistant with Rostons Land & Property Specialists.

He said: “If it wasn’t for my placement with this company I don’t know if I would have even finished my degree. Working for the company in my placement year made me realise what I want to do.

“The placement year really increases your employability and it puts you in good stead for your future.”

Tony Rimmer, Rostons Director, said he had taken on a graduate or placement student from Harper for the past eight years.

He said: “Placement students are an important part of the work place and it’s rewarding watching them develop over the 12 months and often they come back to work for us.”

Sarah Reece, an Associate Partner with Berrys, which focuses on utilities contracts and property management, said the company took both a graduate and placement student each year.

She said: “We like Harper graduates because they have done a placement and it’s so important. They come to us ready to put into practice what they learned.”

Lucie Muddiman, used to work in banking but switched careers after completing a Postgraduate REALM degree two years ago at Harper Adams. She now works for Smiths Gore, one of the UKs leading rural property consultants.

She said the company was looking for a “well rounded” individual with an accredited degree and said the careers fairs were a great way to meet potential employees.

Three REALM students were also awarded prizes by property consultants Brown & Co. The company awards prizes for the students it considers to be the top three in the REALM first year module Law for Estate Managers.

This year’s prize winners were – first place Charles Ackerley, 19, from Carlilse, Cumbria, second place Charlotte Harley, 20, from Llandrindod Wells, Powys and third place Esther Goodhew, 20, from Maidstone, Kent. The prizes of £150 to £50 were presented by David Hooper MA FRICS FAAC, a partner of the firm.