Thank you and goodbye to Kate Hall

Just over 12 months working at Wilson Wraight, and time has flown!

 

I began my placement year with Wilson Wraight in July 2020, as the first set of restrictions were easing, people were meeting with friends and family again, and the sun in Suffolk was shining, and tanning (or burning) my pale Scottish skin.

 

As an Agri-Business student at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, I spend 12 months of my Third Year, out of university, employed in an industry placement (or sandwich year).

 

From a farming background, but new to the world of Agri Consultancy, every spreadsheet, Farmplan backup and Gatekeeper report looked perplexing and incredibly confusing, but I soon managed to digest all the information that was being thrown my way and understand all the variety of work I was getting involved in day-to-day.

 

My summer in Bury St Edmunds flew by, weekends were spent exploring Suffolk and East Anglia, going to the beach, and enjoying time away from university – a very relaxing life without assignments and exams.

 

Through a tougher autumn and winter working at home for 9 months, I missed my colleagues and the office atmosphere, and welcomed the idea of getting back into the office in June.

 

Since getting back, I have managed to get out on-farm to meet clients, helped host the Wilson Wraight stand at the Cereals 2021 Show in Lincolnshire, helped to train our 3 new HAU Placement students, and realised how much I prefer on-farm meetings rather than Zoom – especially when there is plenty cups of tea and biscuits!

 

I finish my time with Wilson Wraight at the end of August, and will certainly miss the whole team, the pub lunches on a Friday, the conversations and debates about farming that happen between colleagues, and the satisfaction of getting the balance sheet to finally balance!

 

I think an industry placement is invaluable, for any course, at any school/ college/ university, and for everybody. My placement year with Wilson Wraight has allowed me to understand why I have learnt the things I have learnt and given me the opportunities to apply my knowledge in real life situations. It has made me even more interested in all elements of the world of farming and made my appetite for my education even stronger.

 

Going back to Harper Adams in September (I pray the pubs remain open) and looking forward to learning more about the interesting things I have seen and done on my year working in the agricultural consultancy industry. I am so grateful to have spent my placement year with the team at Wilson Wraight.