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Placement achievements recognised at annual awards ceremony

Posted 15 May 2023

Staff congratulate the winners of the Aspire Prizes for highest overall performance in personal development planning

The annual Harper Adams Placement awards have been held – marking the successes of the University’s students during their industrial placement year. 

Each undergraduate student is expected to undertake a 12-month placement with a business or organisation as part of their studies at Harper Adams. 

The awards – which are backed by a series of industry partners – recognise the hard work and achievements which each shortlisted student has demonstrated during their placement. 

Senior Lecturer and Agriculture Placement Manager Terry Pickthall, in his welcome speech, noted that students had faced many challenges - both securing their placements and during them. 

However, he added: “Challenges, by nature, bring opportunities to do things differently and it’s here where I know you will be at the very forefront of our future. And here at Harper Adams, I’d like to think we are better equipped than anywhere to prepare our students to face these challenges. Your placement year is clearly a highly significant part of this preparation.  

“I think of you at this stage like clockwork kids’ toys that we’ve wound up tight and are about to let go off – you’re all shiny, thoroughly wound up and ready to be let go across the floor!  

“Those of you here today have worked in a myriad of diverse and fascinating businesses, from the small and specialist to global corporations, from small animal vet to global machinery manufacturer - via Devonian beef farm.  

“I am so proud to be part of what makes Harper Adams virtually unique in having a compulsory placement year.  

“Placement is a partnership between our employers, students and staff and its success is a measure of the hard work and dedication from all involved.  

“It is not an easy option, but at Harper Adams we know it’s the right option to set our students up for their future careers, wherever they may choose to go.” 

And ÎÞÂ붯»­ Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan told the students gathered at the ceremony: “We are here as a University to deliver excellent research and excellent education, but to do it in a way which is enterprising and also delivers impact. 

“You can’t be enterprising if you don’t do it in collaboration with other people. You can’t have impact if you don’t know what it looks like in the real world – so this is a real demonstrator of the possible, and what it means to be enterprising – and also what it means to deliver impact. 

“You are real ambassadors of the University. For those of you receiving awards today, obviously you will come up here and receive our full congratulations, but it is a collective effort – so I think everyone should give each other a round of applause, just to acknowledge the work that’s been done.” 

Agrovista UK Ltd Prize  

The winner of the Agrovista UK Ltd Prize, which is awarded to the BSc (Hons) Agriculture student who demonstrated the Best Overall Performance on placement, was Henry Holmes, who was on placement with JM & W Turnbull in Fife, Scotland. The award was presented by Shelley Bloom, Head of Human Resources at Agrovista UK. 

Cogent Breeding Ltd Prize  

Isobel Tuckwell was named as the winner of the Cogent Breeding Ltd prize, which is given to the FdSc Agriculture student who performed best on placement. Isobel, whose placement year was spent with Hendham View Farm, was presented with her award by Greg Procter, Learning and Development Manager at Cogent Breeding Ltd. 

Cultura Connect Prize 

The best performing Business or Food student on placement – and the winner of the Cultura Connect Prize - was announced as Poppy Rawlings.  Poppy secured her prize for her placement performance at AM Fresh.  She was presented her award by Hugh Pocock, Managing Director of Cultura Connect. 

Buccleuch Prize  

The Buccleuch Prize, awarded annually to the top performing Land Management placement student, was secured by BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management (REALM) student Kate Oakes after her performance on placement at Carter Jonas’ Birmingham Office.  The prize was presented by David Jasper, Placement Manager for Land Management. 

Aspire Prizes  

 In total, eleven students from across the undergraduate course subject suites secured the Aspire Prize, which is given to the student with the highest overall performance in personal development planning. The prizes, presented by Harper Adams Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan, were:  

Catrin Howells –BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Animal Science 

Charlie Greeves –FdSc Agriculture 

Rachel Partridge – BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare (Clinical) 

Katie Morgans – BSc (Hons) Applied Zoology 

Grace Leslie – BSc (Hons) Agri-Food Marketing with Business 

Leigh Taylor – BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Land Management  

Max Finch – B Eng (Hons) Automotive Engineering 

Annabel Rutherford – BSc (Hons) Food Technology and Product Development 

Ellen Williamson – BSc (Hons) Real Estate 

Hannah Newman – BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing with Small Animal Rehabilitation 

Becca Lowes – BSc (Hons)Veterinary Physiotherapy