20 September 2023
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Potato supply and agritech business personnel can apply.
EDEN Search is making a training budget of up to £3,000 available for an executive working for an SME in either fresh food, food manufacturing or agritech.
The money can be used to fund a course, research project or work experience placement that will help unlock the individual’s potential and broaden their horizon. In addition, the winner will receive up to four hour-long mentoring sessions with sector specialists (founders, CEOs and senior leaders) over the course of a 12-month period. Mentoring will also be available to one other applicant.
Non-Executive Director of Eden Search, Richard Macdonald (pictured), said: “The last few years have been tough for companies in agri-food. Post-Brexit and COVID, the industry has been hit with ingredient shortages, labour issues and inflation. SMEs have borne the brunt of this. This is incredibly concerning given they are the backbone of the sector. In UK food manufacturing alone, SMEs account for 22% of turnover and 33% of employment. Yet many don’t have structured training and development programmes in place or, if they do, they’ve been impacted by recent macro-economic pressures.
"Emerging Leaders is designed to help bridge this gap.”
Eden launched its inaugural Emerging Leaders campaign in 2023, providing training and mentoring to three talented industry executives: Dr Ruth Bastow, Innovation Director for CHAP; Miranda Beebe, Head of Volunteer Management at Trussell Trust; and Dr Lisa Morgans is Head of Livestock for i4Agri.
The Emerging Leaders programme is open to anyone with five or more years’ experience working within an SME (<£15m turnover) in food manufacturing, fresh food or agritech in the UK or internationally.
Individuals must be able to demonstrate experience in a senior management position and have a clear view of the external support they require to continue their career path into leadership / board positions. Applicants need to send a copy of their CV and write a 500-word summary answering the following key questions:
• What are the challenges you would like to solve within your industry?
• What training / development would you need to achieve this?
• What difference will this training make to you and the industry, long-term?
Applicants need to confirm the support of their company and provide details of a ‘sponsor’ (eg their line manager) when they make their application. The deadline for applications is November 19th. Applications can be made here. For further information, click here.
Last chance to make a nomination for the following - entry deadline is today! ...
