Graduate prizes 2020: Eleanor awarded the 2020 Noble Food prize

Posted 25 November 2020

Eleanor with her award

Eleanor Brook has been awarded the 2020 Noble Foods Award for graduates who obtain the highest mark within the BSc (Hons) Agri-food Marketing with Business Studies degree pathway. 

The 23-year-old, from Lincolnshire, achieved First Class Honours upon graduation and the highest grade within her cohort. 

On winning the award, Eleanor said: “It was completely unexpected and such a surprise to find out I had won the award. I thought it must be a mistake! 

“Finishing my studies in June and getting my results in July was really anticlimactic. But somehow receiving the Noble Foods Award was something to finally celebrate; I can’t thank Harper staff and Noble Foods enough for continuing the awards in these circumstances. 

“It has given me such a boost and motivation as I look forward to the future. Hopefully if graduation goes ahead next September it will be a full day of long overdue celebrations!” 

Eleanor’s dissertation study contributed to her overall success in winning the Noble Foods Award. Her thesis, entitled ‘An investigation into the implications of farm animal theft for the livestock sector in the United Kingdom’, centred around security measures and farmer’s’ attitudes towards risk and vulnerability. Gaining more than 300 respondents to an online survey, Eleanor’s study indicated the significance of such issues for many farmers in the UK and how best to address them. 

Outside of formal study, Eleanor spent her placement year working within the Agricultural team at Waitrose & Partners, gaining further knowledge of the supply chain and developing her management skills. This, alongside her degree results, has secured her a role at MDS Ltd. 

When it is safe to do so, Eleanor hopes to travel through Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, working as she goes to further develop her agricultural knowledge for the future.