Scholarship to support student’s dream to work in estate and land management

Posted 20 February 2017

Harper Adams University student Lucinda White, 21, hopes to work in estate and land management which was inspired by visiting Ragley Hall as a child and participating in horse competitions at various estates.

Lucinda has recently been awarded a Kildare Charitable Trust Scholarship to help her visit and gain work experience at rural estates across the country.

The BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management (REALM) student from Worcester said: “Ragley Hall, a large local estate, first stimulated my interest in estate and land management which I visited on many family days out. My interest was then developed further with the hosting of the Game Fair.

“Due to my interest in horses and eventing, I’ve visited a variety of events such as Badminton and Gatcombe horse trials, as well as competing at the Pony Club Championships at Cholmondeley Castle.

“Regularly competing and hunting has given me access to many other estates and farms over the years and the way they have diversified in order to remain economically viable is one aspect that really excites me.

“This interest in estate and land management made the REALM course a natural choice for me, and it's a decision I’ve not regretted.

“My placement year was the best year of my life so far and proved extremely rewarding.

“I was fortunate to gain the position of trainee land agent on Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, which was a once in a life time experience.

"Managing around 400 residential properties involved frequent contact with tenants and other employees of the estate. I had so many different experiences throughout the year, which furthered my subject knowledge and helped direct me with my future career.

“Once I finished my placement year, I independently organised more relevant work experience during my summer before starting back for my final year of studying. I spent time with Stowell Park Estate in Oxfordshire and Savills, Cheltenham.

“Observing such a diversity of management and business opportunities in rural areas has given me a better appreciation of my future career choice. I’m determined to become a fully qualified chartered surveyor, using the opportunity of an RICS accredited course to my advantage.

“I’m going to use the Kildare Charitable Trust Scholarship to help gain further knowledge of rural estates by visiting and completing work experience at rural estates which are further afield. The financial support will be really useful for my final year, enabling me to travel to estates I would not otherwise have been able to visit, as I am writing my dissertation on the contribution that rural estates makes to the economy and looking in more depth at diversification.

“The financial support also allows me to purchase educational resources to help me achieve the best degree I can and focus on my final year of education.

“It’s a brilliant achievement to be selected as a Kildare scholar and I’m very grateful for being selected.”