Roy Brown farms around 2000 acres of arable and upland ground in East Lothian, employing a Modern Apprentice in Agriculture, Alicja Blaszczyk, through Borders College.
He is delighted with the way the things are working out both for Alicja and his business, explaining: “The apprenticeship scheme is a great way to train people, as it combines learning through Borders College and mentoring by us in the workplace too.
Having someone on site with new ideas gives us all a lift. When you are actually doing the mentoring, it's a great way to look at best practice and see if you can improve on the way you do things.
I would love to see more trainees coming into this industry, as it provides a great career. I’m now employing two women who are both doing an excellent job, and firmly believe that farmers should be willing to take on the best person, regardless of their gender.
Alicja Blaszczyk explained: I’ve done higher level qualifications before, but the apprenticeship has been a turning point, as I can work full-time, earn a living and gain a relevant qualification.
Although I’ve always enjoyed working outside, my lack of experience meant I struggled to find a way into farming. But after I found out about Modern Apprenticeships and enrolled on one with Borders College, it’s given me a great feeling of job satisfaction.
I enjoy the challenges and new skills I’m learning here, working at lambing, calving and silage, but I look forward to taking on more responsibility and gaining a better understanding of the machinery we use.