YOUNGSTERS who think they can progress up the Scottish farming industry ladder are being offered a chance to prove it – and win £1000 in the process.

An early call went out this week to encourage aspiring young farm professionals, aged between 18 and 25, to show their mettle in the AgriScot Business Skills competition, which will culminate in a final at the AgriScot main event on November 16.

Chairman Andrew Moir said: "The competition has been very well supported in previous years by students, particularly those from SRUC. Its staff are also instrumental in organising the competition and we have also had great support from SAYFC. However, the competition is open to anyone ¬- they might be a student studying a non-agricultural course, someone studying outwith Scotland, or perhaps a young person who is already in-work on the farm or in another ancillary career.”

Alec Ross of sponsors Biocell said: “I think the AgriScot business skills competition plays a significant role in helping to equip our young people to meet the challenges of our industry.

"Entry is straightforward, the information is all on the AgriScot website. Really it's just a case of submitting a CV and writing a short answer to a question pertaining to the industry. From there, regional entrants will be invited onto a farm to spend a few hours with the host farmer and a judge discussing various aspects of the farm business.

“Ultimately we whittle entrants down across the regions to four finalists who compete at AgriScot for the award and its £1000 cash prize.”

Mr Ross added: “It might all sound pretty scary, but not one finalist I've met has ever regretted entering the competition, and one of my great privileges is watching how these young people develop.

"Our first winner, Ian Christie, managed to secure a tenancy near Lumphanen. The runner-up that year, David Hurst, went on to manage 1000ac of cereals and three suckler herds. Sara Sands, from Inchture, who won a couple of years back, spent the money on a plane ticket to Australia, where she worked and studied.”

Last year’s winner, Claire Simonetta of Ulva Ferry on the Isle of Mull, said: “I would strongly encourage any young and driven person that is passionate about the agricultural industry to consider taking part in the AgriScot business skills award competition.”

“I personally found the competition an excellent event to challenge my skills and demonstrate my passion for the agricultural industry to a panel of fair and friendly judges who rewarded me with useful feedback on my strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to work on and broaden my knowledge.

“It has also given me the confidence to challenge my skills further by successfully taking part in more competitions and shortly after winning the award, I was also offered a job!”

“After graduation next year, I plan on becoming an agricultural consultant and I have no doubt that having met all the people involved in the AgriScot business skills competition and being able to add this achievement to my CV will help me to find a good job.”

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