Agriculture and Forestry
Agriculture is one of the biggest industries in the world and its growth is set to continue with greater demands from a burgeoning world population and new challenges for production and sustainability. The industry is experiencing a shortage of graduates with agricultural training, so if you studied agriculture or a related subject at university, your career prospects are excellent in this sector.
Agricultural consultants and advisors provide technical expertise and solutions to agricultural businesses, landowners and conservation organisations, amongst others. They may offer advice on business plans, land use planning, regulatory issues, or plant and animal conservation for example.
Forestry is also experiencing several challenges with competing commercial and environmental interests. Foresters are responsible for looking after woodlands and forests, providing local landowners with advice on species, land use and access, and organising sustainable timber production. Professionals in the sector are having to look at developing multipurpose forests for timber production, conservation and recreation. So if you care about the environment and enjoy the great outdoors, then a career in this sector could be ideal for you.
The agriculture and forestry industries offer many opportunities for self-employment but the hours can be long and irregular. The majority of businesses operating in these industries are small- to medium enterprises (SMEs) and 87% of jobs are based in rural areas. Workers in this sector are normally required to work outdoors for long periods.
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Salaries vary dramatically depending on the type of work you do. Forest or woodland managers can expect to earn a starting salary of £18,500 - £22,000, rising to £26,000. With more than 10 years? experience, senior managers tend to earn between £30,000 and £50,000 per year.
Agricultural consultants and advisors earn between £18,000 and £25,000 at the beginning of their careers, rising to between £30,000 and £50,000 per year. Salaries vary depending on your specialism, with business consultants earning considerably more than environmental advisors, for instance.
Many careers in agriculture require a science degree in a relevant subject, although farming does not require formal training. To pursue a career in forestry, you will need a degree in a relevant subject such as ecology, geography or environmental science. If you do not have a relevant degree, then it is possible to enter the profession after completing post-graduate training in forestry.
As self-employment is common in agriculture and forestry, you will need to have good communication and business management skills, along with a flexible attitude. Strong organisational, team-working and leadership skills are also key attributes. Agricultural consultants and advisors will need excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. As well as formal qualifications, practical work experience is important for gaining entry to the profession, and you will need to have a good understanding of regulatory issues.
