Harper MSc helps Adrian change career

Posted 6 October 2008

Former Farm Manager of the Year Adrian Cannon has graduated from Harper Adams University College with a Master of Science in Rural Environment and Land Management, accredited by the RICS, with a distinction in his dissertation.

Adrian, 38, who is originally from London, not from a farming background, has since changed career within the industry, something he said the Harper Adams course had given him the confidence to do.

Changing from farm management, he is now a farm business consultant with Strutt and Parker, based in Salisbury.

His dissertation on strategic farm management was supported by his employer and he aims to progress the way in which the strategic decision making processes occur on farm and in rural businesses.

He completed his initial honours degree at Nottingham from 1989 to 1992, before working as a farm manager at Great Tew a large mixed Cotswold estate where he won the McCormick Tractors Farm Manager of the Year Award.

"What attracted me to Harper Adams was the excellent facilities, and the way the MSc course is designed which allowed me to undertake it on a part time over three years, whilst remaining in full-time work. There are few colleges offering such distance learning MSc courses and that’s why I chose Harper Adams - it has the facilities to do it."

"The Aspire Centre (Advancing Skills for Professionals in the Rural Economy) and the comprehensive library is a credit to the college which aids this distance learning".

"Whilst hard work the course has given me greater knowledge and confidence to change career. I would definitely recommend it," said Adrian.

Adrian is married to Nicola, and they have three children, Henry, eight, Sally, six, and Alice, four.