Firms in search of talented students

More than 60 companies were scouting for future talent at the Harper Adams University College Annual Careers and Placement Fair in Shropshire.

Nearly 200 staff representatives from companies looking for students to take on placement years with them, were on hand with stalls, advice and information this week.

Final year students were also able to look at a range of companies in the agri-food industry and beyond to consider future careers.

Ex-Harper student Amie Burke completed a placement year as part of her BSc (Hons) Business Management with Marketing degree.

Now she is working full-time as a project executive for the Home Gown Cereals Authority, which is part of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Amie, 22, from Birmingham, said: "The placement year is really important. It makes you stand out against all the other people looking for a job."

Adriane Westwater, hum-an resources director at Noble Foods, said: "We have had placement students from Harper for a very long time. We get a lot out of it. They are young people with lots of ideas and enthusiasm."

Global chemical giant BASF takes six placement students every year. Jennie Watson, development agronomist at BASF, said: "They are integral to the job and the amount of work we do.

"We couldn't manage all the projects unless we had these students."