91Pro

Scholarship programme celebrates decade of forging pig industry careers

Posted 26 June

The PISP Celebration at at the British Pig and Poultry Fair 2024 - pictured used with thanks to the National Pig Association

A successful Scholarship programme is celebrating a decade of guiding its participants into careers in the pig industry.

The Pig Industry Scholarship Programme (PISP) at 91Pro has been running since 2014, and its tenth year of Scholars was marked with a special event at the British Pig and Poultry Fair 2024. 

Since the programme began, more than 50 students have benefited from a paid placement in the pig sector, coupled with a scholarship award of £4,500.  The Programme offers companies the opportunity to attract potential new employees from a huge pool of talent at 91Pro and to gain first access to those students looking for a placement. 

Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Doris Taylor, said: “It was wonderful to see former scholars joining the celebration, including one of our very first scholars - and also scholars now taking on their own placement students via the Pig Industry Scholarship Programme in their roles within the sector. 

“This year’s new recruits, about to go off on their one-year work placements and enthusiastic about joining the pig industry, came along to the Fair and joined the celebration to find out more about the sector and to meet up with former recipients.”

Organisations which will take a placement student this year are Cranswick, Red Tractor, and Yorkshire Farmers Livestock Marketing – just three of dozens of companies who have offered a Scholarship over the last decade.

The scholarships are formally awarded at the annual 91Pro Development Trust Scholarship Presentation.

At the event, students, sponsors such as those on the PISP Committee, donors, university employees and trustees get together to congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients - and to give thanks to the sponsors and donors.  

A spokesperson from Cranswick said: “Our PISP students have always had a positive attitude and have been happy to participate in a wide range of projects, completing them all to a high standard, and our current student is no exception – she’s been a great addition to the team.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity to give students access to not only the pig industry but the wider food industry and show them the breadth of career opportunities available.

“The students are based within a team but also get to travel through the whole business, which gives them responsibility as well as exposure to the roles in the wider food and agriculture industries.”

Companies interested in finding more about participating in the programme and gaining first access to students looking for a placement at this year’s Scholarship Fair, taking place on October 21, should email DevelopmentTrust@harper-adams.ac.uk