The Royal County of Berkshire Show will have 60 new stewards this weekend (19-20 September) thanks to a ground-breaking work experience initiative with BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture).
The students – aged 16 to 18 – come from the Maidenhead-based college’s Equine, Agriculture, Media and Public Services departments. They are being trained to join the 400-strong band of show volunteers, who ensure the smooth running of the event – from directing 60,000 visitors around the Newbury Showground, to moving livestock to the right place at the right time. In return, college students are receiving a proper briefing and training, and will be set hands-on challenges overseen by mentors.
Run by a registered charity and with only a small full-time team, the show depends heavily upon volunteers in a wide range of roles – from IT to helping mark out the showground, and from office work to stewarding. It can mean anything from lending an extra pair of hands in the horse section, to being a behind-the-scenes assistant in the Cookery Theatre kitchen.
“The show simply could not happen without its volunteers,” says Daren Bowyer, Chief Executive of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society. “This is a fabulous joint initiative because it will involve more young people in the running of the show while adding to their skill set and contributing to their course work. We have always been fortunate in attracting enthusiastic people who are happy to give their time. But the reality is that they are getting thinner on the ground and we need to attract new blood. For us, it’s part of succession planning.”
Liz Hadden, Assistant Principal: Land, from the Berkshire BCA, says: “This is an exciting opportunity for our students to have a hand in their county show. It contributes to their work experience requirements, and gives them vital links into industry for the future. This initiative helps us to excite our students about the range of rewarding career paths available to them.”
First year Agriculture student, Josh Whitmore, adds: “I applied to be a steward because it will give me a unique experience that will give me an advantage when applying for jobs. I would like to work in the sheep section as I am interested in rare breeds.”
The scheme is expected to expand next year, when the students will apply for specific roles, and will be interviewed by the show team. The college is also hoping to involve its Sports students in the show’s popular Sports Zone.
