- The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) is proud to announce the launch of its innovative Virtual Work Experience (VWEX) programme
With many schools and colleges no longer requiring students to take on-site work experience, this VWEX programme will give agriculture and horticulture quality representation in one of the country’s largest virtual work experience platforms.
Made in collaboration with key stakeholders through the Industry Careers Action Plan (ICAP) group, our VWEX course is designed to break down barriers and provide young people across the UK with meaningful exposure to careers in farming and growing and cultivate a diverse new generation of talent for this vital industry.
Launched in June, the VWEX programme, called Grow Your Sustainable Career – Work Experience in Farming, aims to address key challenges identified in industry research, including low awareness of agricultural careers, outdated perceptions of the sector, and lack of diversity.
By leveraging a virtual format, TIAH is removing geographical and financial obstacles that have historically limited access to work experience opportunities in farming and growing. The virtual format also addresses long-standing safety concerns that have made some farmers reluctant to host young people for on-site work experience, providing a risk-free environment for students to explore agricultural careers.
“Our VWEX programme opens doors for young people who may have never considered a career in agriculture before,” said Stephen Jacob, CEO of TIAH. “By showcasing the cutting-edge technology and sustainability initiatives driving modern farming, we hope to inspire a new generation of diverse talent to enter this vital industry.”
The programme features:
• Virtual tours of working farms and facilities
• Video interviews with professionals across various roles and levels
• Interactive activities and webinars led by industry experts
• Information on career pathways and employability skills
Thanks to the collaboration with members of the ICAP group, this VWEX programme reflects a united effort to strengthen the talent pipeline for food production in the UK. The group plays a crucial role in attracting young people to careers in agriculture and horticulture. Collaboration among industry stakeholders is essential for effectively promoting these career opportunities and addressing the challenges faced by the sector.
“This initiative demonstrates the power of industry-wide cooperation,” said Tess Howe, Head of Partnerships and Policy. “By working together, we’re creating accessible opportunities that will shape the future of agriculture and horticulture.”
The VWEX programme will be available free of charge to all registered participants until April 2025. With more than 100 students already enrolled and the potential to reach thousands more through the Springpod platform, TIAH is poised to make a significant impact on agricultural career awareness and recruitment.
“This initiative directly addresses the need to improve industry contact and showcase the exciting STEM applications in modern agriculture,” added Ruthie Peterson, Careers Manager at TIAH. “We are grateful to all the people and business that contributed their time to this project to offer young people a window into the innovative and essential world of food production.”
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