The Oxford Farming Conference has announced the return of its Breaking Barriers Scholarship for a second year.
The programme, which was first run in partnership with McDonald’s UK last year, will support two individuals to attend the Conference in January as part of the 2022 Scholars’ Programme.
Breaking Barriers Scholarship
The Breaking Barriers Scholarship aims to support diversity and inclusion within the agricultural industry.
It offers candidates who reflect a broad diversity of backgrounds, geographies and academic experiences, or who come from outside of the agri-food sector but are keen to enter it, the opportunity to participate in the conference.
Oxford Farming Conference director and international business development manager for UK AgriTech centre, Crop Health and Protection (CHAP), Dr. Jenna Ross, is chairing this year’s Oxford Farming Conference Scholars’ Programme: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Breaking Barriers Scholarship will be returning to the Oxford Farming Conference 2022.
“This scholarship provides an amazing opportunity for enthusiastic and passionate young individuals, no matter their background or experience, to attend the conference as part of the Oxford Farming Conference Scholars’ Programme.
This year is particularly exciting as we are launching a new upskilling element to the programme, which complements the peer-to-peer networking. I firmly believe that the new and exciting changes to the January 2022 Scholars’ Programme provide an excellent opportunity for Scholars to experience the UK’s leading agricultural conference while gaining valuable skills.”
McDonald’s UK & Ireland agriculture manager Harriet Wilson said: “At McDonald’s, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion is absolutely paramount, which is why we launched the Breaking Barriers Scholarship last year.
“Following the positive response, we’re delighted to announce the return of it in 2022, and provide further opportunities for candidates from non-agri and diverse backgrounds to attend the Oxford Farming Conference. We hope the Scholarship continues to inspire candidates from any background to consider a future career in the industry.”
How to apply
Over the last nine years, the Oxford Farming Conference Scholars’ Programme, sponsored by McDonald’s, has supported more than 400 scholars, through networking, workshops, and events.
Next year, the Scholars’ Programme will embrace a hybrid model, with the opportunity to attend the live conference in January 2022, as well as access a series of online bespoke upskilling webinars that will be made exclusively available to the Scholars’ Programme.
Candidates are not required to have any previous qualifications or to be working in the industry. Candidates should be aged between 22 and 30 years of age and have not previously attended the conference.
For full details on the programme and to apply, head to the Oxford Farming Conference website. The deadline for applications is September 17, 2021.
