Women are making it work in agriculture

Universities Scotland recognised ‘intrapreneur’ Laura Barwick from near Jedburgh is helping to illustrate the range of careers and opportunities on offer in Scotland’s rural and land-based industries.

Laura, (25), graduated from SRUC Edinburgh with a BA in Rural Business Management and now works for Scotbeef Ltd as their agricultural livestock liaison manager.

She explained: “My career isn’t the typical choice for a female graduate and many people are surprised to find a young woman in my role within the red meat industry, however I love it and I like to challenge stereotypes! Growing up on the family farm, agriculture is in my blood. It’s a way of life I am passionate about. When it came to choosing a career I knew agriculture would be part of my life but I just wasn’t sure how.

“I have always been interested in business and motivated by how I can improve things and do things better, and I’m a logical thinker. I combined this with my love of agriculture and studied Rural Business Management - it was the perfect fit and course for me.

“I can honestly say that my time at SRUC provided me with an invaluable grounding - broadened my horizons and provided me with the knowledge, channels and opportunities to harness my passions and interests. It set me up fantastically and I would do it again in a heart beat!”

Laura was identified as an intrapreneur - a graduate who has gone into an established business on a placement or in a permanent role and applied their ‘can do’ attitude to innovate within the business and really add value over and above what the business would have been able to do itself.