Commercial Nutrition Graduate AB Agri Ltd

Job description

At AB Agri you will be on a 12-18month Commercial Nutrition Graduate Programme which will provide you with the opportunity to develop your technical skills commercially in a fast paced, dynamic and growing business with a wide range of nutritional activities. This is made up of several placements across the different businesses where you will gain experience across the monogastric and ruminant species.

Locations will vary and graduates must expect to be in at least 2 main locations throughout the period with possible short term periods at 2 others. During each placement you will be assigned business projects and objectives which will help you build your commercial acumen and key business competencies, and receive ongoing nutritional training and exposure to the livestock product supply chain sector. For example the work may include implementing trials, participating in technical input to marketing (literature, events, websites), developing and formulating products, technical advice to customers, quality assurance tasks, raw material evaluation and research reviews.

Joining the AB Agri graduate programme is a great deal more than just your first job after University – it’s a golden opportunity to shape your working future with a company that’s committed to helping you achieve your potential.

Learning and Development
At AB Agri we welcome new talent, the fresh ideas they bring and their ability to challenge the way we do things. Our training scheme is not the end of the training experience, but the first part of a career-long development process.

Our programme begins with a comprehensive induction to the business, our manufacturing process, market nature and structures and the business issues that confront us. This induction is followed by core training modules spread throughout your scheme, providing an insight into general business topics and management skills.

Our programme offers an intensive yet flexible development framework with clearly defined goals. You’ll be tackling live business issues, taking on a high level of responsibility from the outset and gaining significant on-the-job experience, which will be complemented by ongoing training. You can of course expect plenty of support, including a personally assigned mentor and graduate buddy. On farm placements available to gain essential knowledge and understanding of agriculture. However the responsibility will be on you to drive your own development. This means you must be able to think proactively and recognise the skills you need to acquire in order to progress.. You will of course also have the chance to make a real impact.

Recruitment process
Applications will be shortlisted, and those shortlisted will be invited to undertake a competency based face to face interview. The final stage involves an Assessment Centre involving a range of exercises including presentations, group exercises, interviews, case studies, and an opportunity to take our online numerical and verbal reasoning tests.

If you get short-listed during the selection process we will get in touch with you through email.

Person requirements

We’re looking for graduates with a real interest in animal nutrition and associated activities You’ll need to demonstrate commerciality, great interpersonal skills, creativity and pro-activity to help influence key stakeholders and build our business. As a commercial nutrition graduate you must be able to deal with the detail but also see the big picture. You will be motivated to work as part of a team but also be self motivated to drive your own performance and that of the group.

Nutritional science is constantly evolving; you will need to be prepared to gain further knowledge and have a thirst for learning as well as develop the ability to work with large volumes of information to see the relevance of the technical detail to the commercial side.
Our nutritionists play a key role in researching, developing, selling and advising across our market leading product range. This extends to feed materials, feed additives, pre-mixes and compound feed including specialist products such as baby pig feed.

Whilst previous livestock production experience is not essential, you must have, an open attitude and willingness to learn and demonstrate an enthusiasm for the livestock sector.

During your programme you will undertake a number of placements to provide you with a broad base of experience across AB Agri. As a result you will move across a number of locations. You’ll need a minimum 2.1 or higher in a science based course or agricultural degree and a minimum of 300 UCAS points or equivalent. You’ll also need to be geographically/internationally mobile to take up opportunities that the programme presents and have a full clean driving licence.

Just as important as your technical acumen will be your ability to be proactive, innovative and to think laterally in a commercial world. You can expect a high degree of responsibility, support and training, and a chance to contribute within the team from the outset.

The benefits
The benefits of a career with AB Agri are an appealing mix:

• Moving assistance
• Formal and informal mentoring schemes
• Opportunities for cross-functional moves
• Contributory pension scheme
• 25 days holiday plus 8 days’ statutory public holidays

Company information

Divisions
AB Vista, Premier Nutrition, OneCo

AB Agri, the agricultural division of Associated British Foods plc., operates at the heart of the agri food and drink industry with activities that stretch from ‘plough to plate’.

It supplies technology-based products and services to farmers, feed and food manufacturers, processors and retailers. It also buys grain from farmers and supplies crop inputs through its joint venture arable operation; Frontier.

Through a number of business divisions operating right across the supply chain, AB Agri manufactures high performance compound feeds, provides world leading analytical capability, nutritional advice, sustainable business solutions and poultry marketing services for customers. It helps food, drink and bioethanol companies internationally to reduce their environmental footprint by marketing their co-products as animal feed and also supplies premix, enzymes and other technical products to the livestock and pet industries. AB Agri’s proposition can influence profitability at every stage of the food supply chain.

The business directly employs over 2,000 people in the UK and overseas, and markets products and services through circa 20 businesses in 60 countries worldwide. Sustained investment, customer focus, the recruitment of talented people and innovation in nutrition have all been major factors in establishing AB Agri as a market leader in the sectors within which it operates.

ABF is an international agriculture, food, ingredients and retail business with 102,000 employees in 46 countries. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, ABF is a FTSE 100 company and the fifth largest food business in Europe.

As a highly commercial and respected business, AB Agri is looking for graduates with the skills, initiative and personality to play an integral part in our continuing growth and success. Positions with us suit graduates hungry for accountability and career development. From day one you’ll be treated as part of the team and rewarded with real responsibility.

Qualification and experience requirements

Animal Science, Biological Science degree or similar which must have included Biochemistry
You’ll need a minimum 2.1 degree in any discipline and a minimum of 300 UCAS points or equivalent.

Accepted degree subjects

• agricultural sciences
• animal care and veterinary science