The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) hosted its fourth annual ‘Opportunities for Employment in Agriculture’ event on January 29 at the Greenmount Campus in Antrim. This event aimed to bridge the gap between students and employers in the agriculture industry, providing a platform for students to connect with businesses seeking placement students or graduates. The event featured over 45 exhibitors, ranging from small to large agricultural businesses, offering a wide variety of job roles and placement opportunities.
In his opening address, the Acting CAFRE Director expressed gratitude to the businesses attending, acknowledging the strong working relationships CAFRE has established with the industry. He highlighted the event’s significance in enabling agricultural graduates to kickstart their careers and noted the impressive range of roles on offer, from production agriculture jobs to graduate training programs within prominent agricultural businesses. The Director emphasized that the future for CAFRE graduates is exceptionally promising, thanks to the broad spectrum of opportunities available.
The event attracted a diverse group of businesses eager to secure stands, including companies from sectors such as pig, poultry, milk, meat processing, genetics, feed, retail, and recruitment agencies. Additionally, representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Portal Branch were present to discuss career prospects within the public sector.
CAFRE staff were pleased to welcome over 400 students to the event, where they had the opportunity to explore over 100 job openings displayed on the ‘Jobs Wall.’ The wall served as the focal point for students, who could then visit the various stands to learn more about the roles and application processes. Human Resources staff from each organization were available to explain the specific requirements of each position and how students could apply. The event received positive feedback, with employers expressing their satisfaction with the large number of potential candidates they had the chance to meet.
A representative from Mason’s Animal Feeds Ltd expressed appreciation for being part of the event, noting the positive conversations held with students about future career opportunities in the agriculture industry. The company is already looking forward to participating in next year’s event.
CAFRE student Tom Smyth shared his positive experience at the event, describing it as a brilliant day. He appreciated the opportunity to meet many of the companies he had been researching and found the atmosphere to be welcoming and engaging. Tom is currently completing his Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Agriculture and plans to continue his studies at CAFRE by enrolling in one of the Higher Education programs in September 2025.
In addition to students, GCSE Agriculture teachers and Careers teachers from schools across Northern Ireland were also invited to attend the event. This provided them with firsthand exposure to the wide range of career opportunities available to agriculture graduates. One such teacher, Karen Laverty, Careers Co-ordinator at St Columba’s College in Portaferry, praised the event for being informative and valuable. She also took the opportunity to tour CAFRE’s Dairy Centre and speak with CAFRE staff, appreciating the friendly atmosphere and the chance to meet past students who had gone on to successful careers in agriculture.
In conclusion, the event highlighted the abundance of career opportunities in agriculture, with CAFRE continuing to produce high-caliber graduates ready to enter the industry. The positive response from both employers and students reflects the growing demand for skilled professionals in the agricultural sector. To learn more about CAFRE’s agricultural courses, including details on the upcoming Open Day on March 28, prospective students can visit the CAFRE website.
