Pig Industry Scholarship

The programme was developed by AHDB, the NPA allied industry group (AIG) and Harper Adams University in 2012. It is managed by a steering group of industry and university representatives and is chaired by Hugh Crabtree, AHDB Pork sector council member.

The programme has seen more than 50 students spend their placement year within the pig industry, with many returning to their placement company after graduation.

What are the benefits to sponsor companies?

• Attract potential new employees from a huge pool of talent
• Gain first access to students who are looking for a placement
• Be seen as a business that cares about upskilling the next generation
• Establish a relationship with a student early in their studies
• Opportunity to appraise student during a ‘year-long interview’
• Financial investment is comparable to advertising in the national farming press and is often tax-deductible

Get involved

We are pleased to have been able to help match four companies with students as part of the 2022–23 Pig Industry Scholarship Programme, providing students with an opportunity to explore the vast array of roles within the pig industry. In addition, eight companies joined the programme for the 2023–24 cohort.

We are now recruiting sponsors for the 2025–2026 academic year, the deadline for expressing an interest is early September 2024 (official date TBC).

Students will be starting their placements in the summer of 2025.

If you are interested in getting involved in future, please get in touch.

What type of businesses can participate?

We want to demonstrate the wide variety of opportunities that the pig industry offers and we welcome interest from all areas of the industry. Including, but not limited to:

• Engineering 
• Food processing and manufacturing
• Genetics
• New product development
• Nutrition
• Pharmaceuticals
• Pig production
• Transport and logistics
• Veterinary science

What do students receive?

• Twelve month paid placement with a partner company
• £4,500 scholarship
• Potential further scholarship of £4,500 in the final year (subject to review after placement period)

The scheme is open to students studying at Harper Adams University in their second year BSc and first year FdSc.

Listen to our podcasts to learn more about the programme and hear from participants

Watch our webinar recording to learn more (2020)

Get in touch

For more information about the Pig Industry Scholarship and becoming a sponsor, get in touch with Charlotte Evans.