"It's Been A Rollarcoaster of A Year and I'm Going Out On A High": Placement Student Ellie Reflects On Her Year With Buitelaar
As part of an Agricultural Business Management degree at the University of Reading, Ellie Taylor applied to join the Buitelaar Group for 12-months’ work placement experience.
In a round up blog, Ellie reflects on her years’ experience with the marketing team and the opportunities she’s had at the Group.
I joined Buitelaar as part of my placement year for university and the whole experience has been truly valuable and exciting for me. Writing this blog has allowed me to reflect on the wonderful opportunities and everything that I have learnt at the Group. I feel I have grown in confidence throughout my placement, particularly with transitioning from studying at university to working full-time.
My journey started with an induction to the business, which proved to be invaluable and pretty busy I must say! I not only had the opportunity to work on the livestock side of the supply chain but was exposed to all business divisions including pet food and raw materials, the meat brands and hides and skins - the team were very welcoming making me feel more confident going into my new role as a Marketing Assistant. I particularly enjoyed visiting the processing site at Woodhead’s Abattoir in Spalding - it was exciting to see Buitelaar’s Heritage Hallmark brand label on the end product!
My role within the department has been really varied, including gathering on-farm content, supporting a range of marketing campaigns, and assisting at shows and events. My experience has also enabled me to become more self-aware, discovering my creative ability for graphic design and picking up the camera to improve my photography skills too. The learning certainly didn’t stop there for me; I had with the chance to take part in regenerative agriculture courses, and various internal specialist product training.
I found the Buitelaar Open days were particularly useful as they allowed me to engage and build a network of contacts within the industry. The days we’re very educational and consisted of topical talks from industry professionals, a tour of the Development Farm and delicious Longhorn sandwiches (a firm fave!).
One of the main highlights of the year, was leading an interview with one of Buitelaar’s calf rearers about the recent installation of the Permanent High Health Units in Lincolnshire – this was well out of my comfort zone, but once I had completed it, I had a great sense of achievement - a final milestone before the end of my placement.
Placements are a fantastic opportunity to allow you to form networks and develop both personally and professionally.
I think it is important for anyone who is thinking about doing a placement to grab the opportunity when you get the chance. Buitelaar have been a wonderful company to work for, the team set a great example of hard-work, dedication, and ambition but they equally know how to have a good time outside of the office too!
I have had a real insight into the work environment, which has helped shape my career path. It is now time to return to university life and put the skills I have learnt into practice and complete my final year.
A career in the agricultural industry doesn't just mean a career in farming, there are a diverse range of career and job opportunities available throughout the entire supply chain. We believe new entrants should be more aware of the endless possibilities available and are there to support those building a impactful future.
With a wide variety of opportunities within the Buitelaar Group, including our growing Graduate Schemes, get in touch to find out more now.
