AWARD FOR BEST FIRST YEAR
AUCTIONEERING STUDENT ……..
CARLISLE NFU group secretary Nick Utting from Watermillock dropped in
at the university of Cumbria’s Newton Rigg Campus, near Penrith,
to present a prize to the best first year student on a course being
run for trainee auctioneers.
Mr Utting was acting in his role as chairman
of the Dick Harrison Trust, which provides grants to young people
wishing to enter a career in auctioneering or rural land agency.
The trust was set up in memory of the late Dick Harrison, who was the
well known manager of Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle, and did much
to encourage youngsters to enter this rural sector.
The trust considers
applications from young people living Scotland, Cumbria and Northumberland.
Those wishing to apply for support should contact trust secretary
Robert Addison at Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle.
 |
Doreen Fell receives
her
Top Student Award 2007 from Nick Utting |
This recipients
of this year’s prize was Doreen Fell who is employed
at Ulverston Mart in South Cumbria, where she is involved with
all aspects of the livestock business.
The course at Newton Rigg
is run by Livestock Auctioneers Association, which, in association
with the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers of Scotland, has
developed a foundation degree (FdSc) through the University of Cumbria
for livestock auctioneers and valuers based throughout England, Wales
and Scotland.
Chris Dodds, executive secretary of Livestock Auctioneers
Association, said: “The course is now in its third year, with 28
students attending from throughout Britain – from the very south
of England and Wales to the islands off Scotland.
“ Students who successfully complete and pass the four – year
distance learning course will be eligible to apply to the two associations
for a fellowship, as well as being awarded a foundation degree
in livestock auctioneering and valuations (rural) by the University of
Cumbria”.
The
course covers all aspects of livestock market operations and associated
duties, with modulesincluded on auction mart operations, animal
health and welfare, study skills with IT, taxation and law, commodities
marketing, land economy and business skills, agricultural policies
finance, health and safety and human resource procedures.
Mr Dodds added: “The
LAA is pleased by the recognition that the degree course has already
achieved from representitives from throughout the UK livestock industry,
and is delighted that Dick Harrison Trust wishes to be associated with
it by making an annual award”.
CLAIRE METCALFE
 |
| Claire Metcalfe |
I first heard about The Dick Harrison Trust when a lecturer at the Royal
Agricultural College informed me of its existence and how individuals
such as myself and others from Cumbria, could apply to the Trust
for financial assistance to support me with my chosen degree in Rural
Land Management.
Throughout my University degree at Cirencester, I was
fortunate enough to receive a bursary each year which assisted
me with my costs for studying such as accommodation, study trips
and of course all of those books that students require.
Additionally,
the Trust supported me further when I chose to study Herdwick Sheep
as the topic for my dissertation. The financial support that I
received from the Trustees made a valuable contribution to the costs
of the extensive research I had to undertake, not least of all the many
miles travelled to visit remote hill farmers throughout Cumbria.
I
enjoyed considerable academic success throughout my degree, achieving
the Highest Achieving Student Award on the Rural Land Management
Course in each year of my degree. Having graduated from the Royal
Agricultural College, Cirencester in 2006 with a First class
honours degree in BSc (Hons) Rural land Management; I am now employed
as an Assistant Rural Surveyor with Smiths Gore in their Preston
office and enjoying my role considerably.
I am very grateful to
the Trustees for all of the Trust’s support and would
encourage anybody who is eligible to apply to enjoy the benefits
of The Dick Harrison Trust.