OMSCo Announces Bursary Winners (From Smallholder)

OMSCo Announces Bursary Winners

8:20am Thursday 22nd October 2009 in

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The Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCo) has announced the winners of its annual bursary awards scheme which encourages young people to carve a career in organic dairy farming.

Reading University students Matthew Pilkington (22) and George Andrew Portch (20) will benefit from a £1000 each in financial support towards their three year degree in Agricultural Business Management.

Available to OMSCo members, their immediate families, and employees on OMSCo farms under the age of 25, the programme helps further agricultural studies in the organic sector, helping to strengthen its future. The recipients are judged on an individual basis, although priority is given to those planning to study for a practical agricultural qualification.

George Andrew Portch, said: “I’m thrilled to have been awarded the bursary. My family and I run an organic farm which supplies organic milk to OMSCo and my father is a member of the cooperative, so the investment in my studies will allow me to strengthen the family business and continue to help support the UK organic milk market.”

Richard Hampton, marketing director at OMSCo, said: “It is tough starting out in any career and our bursary scheme has been a very popular initiative since it started four years ago. The future success of organic dairy farming depends on young people with energy and new ideas choosing it as a career and we are pleased to invest in George and Matthew and nurture their interest in this sector.”

For more information on the OMSCo bursary contact Gill Crane on 07920 057377 or email gill@omsco.co.uk.