SCOTTISH FARMING’S best and brightest 18 to 25 year-olds have been invited to enter a competition highlighting rural business skills.

The AgriScot Business Skills Award, organised by Scotland’s Rural University College and SAYFC with sponsorship from Biocell Agri, is now open to applications from young farmers whether they are studying, working or looking for a job.

Applicants are invited to submit a CV and a 250-word article on “Key business skills required by a new entrant into agriculture”. Selected candidates will attend a regional heat involving a farm visit and commentary on real-life, professional scenarios, then finalists will assemble at AgriScot, on November 18 at Ingliston, for interview on the morning of the event, with the winner then being awarded a £1000 prize.

AgriScot chairman Andrew Moir said: “This competition is immensely rewarding for everyone involved. I greatly enjoy watching the successive waves of entrants growing as they take part in this extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate their practical and business skills.

“In addition to what can be gained by participating and being recognised, the competition offers valuable opportunities to anyone starting out in their career.”

SRUC’s Caroline Daniel, who coordinates the competition, said: “All participants gain great experience from applying in a new context what they have learned in the classroom or on the farm. All contestants benefit from meeting and talking to the host farmer and judges who challenge them but encourage them too.

“The basic process of the competition takes applicants through the important process of preparing an up-to-date CV and writing a short article before the interview setting of the semi-final; the whole exercise neatly simulates a standard job application and is therefore highly valuable for young agriculturalists as they take their first steps into the world of work.”

Last year’s AgriScot Business Skills Award winner was Ross Learmonth. He added: “Having just graduated in agriculture from SRUC, the competition has definitely had a positive effect on getting my first job as a trainee nutritionist and livestock specialist; it helped build my CV, gave me new farming experience and made me more confident.

“The competition was invaluable from beginning to end although I won’t deny that it was daunting; I’d applied the year before and not been successful, but when I was in my final year at SRUC I became more career-focused and my mind was much more stimulated.”

Entries for the 2014 Business Skills Competition close on October 9. Entrants must submit a CV which should include date of birth and full contact details and a statement of 200 -250 words on the topic “Key business skills required by a new entrant into agriculture”. Entries should be sent to: caroline.daniel@sruc.ac.uk www.sruc.ac.uk @SRUCStudents.

- For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday’s issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk