Agriculture manager — Leisia Tudor

Leisia earned a BSc in Agriculture from Aberystwyth University before landing a spot on the Dunbia graduate scheme as a sales and commercial graduate

Why did you decide on a career in agriculture?

Having been brought up on our family farm, I’ve always had a passion for the agricultural industry - I couldn't ever see myself doing anything else.

Why did you want to work for Dunbia?

The graduate programme was a major factor in my decision to join Dunbia. It offered me the chance to rotate through different departments, giving me a well-rounded understanding of the entire business.

On top of that, Dunbia's extensive network of farms across the UK and access to global markets solidified my belief that this was a fantastic opportunity.

How did you get your job?

I found out about the graduate programme through the Farmers Weekly careers event held in Birmingham. After having a chat with the Dunbia team at the stand, I applied through their website. I was then shortlisted for an interview and secured my graduate role before completing my degree.

What does a typical day involve?

I look after agricultural accounts for beef and lamb for UK retailers, so my typical day involves a mix of liaising with retailers' agriculture teams, collaborating on on-farm projects, collecting data, and attending industry meetings and events.

As the only member of the agriculture team currently in Wales, I also work closely with external companies such as the Welsh Meat Levy Body (Hybu Cig Cymru) and Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

The variety of the role keeps things exciting. One day I might be out on the farm, collaborating with producers, and the next I'm back in the office or travelling across the UK for meetings.

I also find the close collaboration with other departments like commercial, technical, and new product development to be particularly engaging. It gives me a glimpse into upcoming projects beyond the scope of my own role.

What are the challenges?

The agricultural industry, including livestock farming, has been under significant pressure for the past few years. This compels us to protect our suppliers and ensure the best presentation of our beef and lamb.

What are your career ambitions?

I want to be involved in projects that make positive differences in the agricultural industry and help as many farmers be as efficient and sustainable as they can.

What support do you receive at Dunbia?

I feel fortunate to have such a supportive team, and the same goes for the other departments I collaborate with. Dunbia truly invests in its graduates, and I just started the Operations and Departmental Management course - a perfect opportunity to propel my career forward within the company. They trust us to lead our own projects, giving us valuable hands-on experience. Plus, we get to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in agriculture.

The graduate scheme itself was fantastic. It allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and gain experience in an unfamiliar area. This has been crucial in expanding my knowledge of the entire supply chain, which proves invaluable when interacting with farmers, retailers, and others across the industry.

What is one stereotype about working in agriculture that you'd like to debunk?

Working within the red meat supply chain doesn't mean you need extensive knowledge of agriculture, there are many areas you can specialise in such as sales, technical, new product development, food safety and engineering.

What are two issues affecting your area of work?

• Costs- The current cost-of-living crisis is squeezing both consumers and farmers.  Finding a fair price for red meat that satisfies both ends of the supply chain - affordable for the customer yet profitable for the farmer - is a major challenge.
• Negative messaging around agricultural sustainability- There's a misconception that UK red meat production is unsustainable. The truth is, with our high animal welfare standards and our world-leading grass-fed farming systems, UK red meat is actually among the most sustainable in the world. We need to do a better job of communicating these strengths.

What advice can you give to others who want to work in agriculture?

Go for it. The industry keeps expanding which means there are a lot of exciting opportunities within many departments so there will always be something to suit everyone.

Find out more

• Explore what the environment and agriculture has to offer.
• Discover what it's like to work for Dunbia.