Farm Operation Manager
Patrick Wrenn is the Farm’s Operation Manager based at Suffolk New College.
Summary
- Patrick’s role at Suffolk New College is to provide a realistic farming environment for the students to learn.
- The role is mostly outside, in all weathers, however, as a manager there is an element of office work. Patrick manages a small team, and they work closely together.
- Patrick’s working week is varied. Working with livestock means you need to be available 365 days a year. During the busy periods, such as lambing season the days can get very long.
Sectors
There are many parts of Patricks role that he finds satisfying, such as problem solving and organising, which in agricultural management you spend most of your time doing.
The success of the farm is dependent on Patrick’s decision making, and he likes this responsibility.
Farm management is often a graduate occupation now, but it is possible to get into the role with a Level 3 qualification or ‘on farm’ experience.
This job was a change of career for Patrick He started on a farm as a volunteer, worked his way to staff, the eventually he got into a farm management position.
Patrick was able to get into his first farm management position after around two years of working on the farm. This included completing a Level 3 work-based diploma in agriculture at the same time.
In this sector it is possible for a person to start as a stock person, or a machinery operator, work up to assistant farm manager, then farm managers and directors. There are also options of getting into lecturing and consultancy work.
As they are part of a college, Patrick gets to work with other teams, and individuals, that other farm mangers would not get the chance to.
Patrick’s advice to any young person looking at this sector, is that you do not need to come from an agricultural family to get into agriculture. The industry really needs new people and is does not matter what your background is. There are plenty of colleges and apprenticeships that will teach you all you need to know.
Location
Farm Operation Manager
There are many parts of Patricks role that he finds satisfying, such as problem solving and organising, which in agricultural...