Scheme launches the next generation

Fifteen young and ambitious potato industry high-fliers successfully completed a robust selection process, competing with applicants from across all regions and market sectors.

The Next Generation programme requires the ambitious participants to complete nine comprehensive business and technical one-day modules, running over 12 months until March 2016 and will provide them with first-hand commercial and technical knowledge about the whole potato supply chain.

Shropshire plants the largest potato area of the West Midlands counties. It also produces the future crop of industry innovators.

John Glazebrook-Milner graduated from Harper Adams University in Newport this summer. John, also a Next Generation participant, has now joined the progressive potato business Wilfred Maddocks Ltd eight miles away in Chadwell.

"It's an honour to be a part of the Next Generation programme and to further my skills within the potato sector," said John. "The group of like-minded individuals are passionate about the industry and we all wish to make a difference."

Opportunities in the potato sector are immense. An AHDB survey identified more than 60 per cent of farming firms and supply chain businesses find it difficult to secure employees of the right calibre, with the majority believing they'll have a resource gap over the next five years.

Lee Sharp, another Next Generation high-flyer, works for another Shropshire-based company Maincrop Potatoes, who are growers and suppliers of crops for fresh and processing use. He said: "The programme is a fantastic opportunity for professional development as well as an opportunity to express the voice of young people within the £4.1bn potato industry."

Next month's trade event, BP 2015 in Harrogate, is a "who's who" of the potato industry (potato.org.uk/bp2015). Anyone who is considering a career or just starting out in potatoes would really benefit from visiting this biennial gathering to find out just what a challenging and rewarding career the potato industry offers.

Hannah Goodwin, AHDB Potatoes technical executive, is also one of this year's participants. Hannah will take over the running of the Next Generation programme for 2016/2017 and has already put the call out for prospects for next year.

If you would like to apply for a place on the 2016/2017 programme, you can visit the Next Generation webpage (potato.org.uk/next-generation) or contact Hannah on Hannah.goodwin@ahdb.org.uk, call (02476) 478840 or visit her at BP 2015.

By Sophie Lock of AHDB Potatoes