The Northern Bank
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Background
Northern Bank began in 1809 as a Belfast based banking company known as the Northern Banking Partnership. From the very beginning Northern catered for the business market and expanded services in line with its needs.
Northern Bank has evolved over the years meeting the changing needs of customers. In 2005 the Danish-based Danske Bank Group acquired the bank and has invested approximately £100m in Northern Bank. We now have a leading edge technology platform which allows us to offer some of the most innovative and competitive products and banking services in the market.
Our Mission
The vision of our parent company, the Danske Bank Group is "One platform – exceptional brands". Our mission is to be "the best local financial partner".
Northern Bank and the agri – food industry
As the farmers’ bank, agriculture represents a significant proportion of Northern Bank’s business. Northern Bank offers a range of products and services to the agri – food industry. A team of specialised Agribusiness Managers, empowered to make decisions locally, offer farmers/growers an effective range of solutions for their businesses. In addition, Northern Bank’s Agribusiness Team has a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector and is well aware of the issues faced by the industry.
The Bursary Programme
Northern Bank is proud of its long association with CAFRE and is pleased to support the Higher Education Bursary programme as part of our extensive agricultural sponsorships. We see this as an excellent opportunity to build on our links with Greenmount Campus – an important and local seat of learning for those wishing to pursue a career in agriculture and the land-based industries.
The Ulster Farmers' Union
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Background
Founded in 1918, the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU)is the largest democratic voluntary organisation representing farmers and growers in Northern Ireland. Its central objective is to promote their interests both at home and abroad through professional lobbying.
The Role of the Ulster Farmers’ Union
The UFU takes a close interest in rural affairs and services, and works with politicians both in the UK and internationally, and other groups and organisations to advance rural interests. It has particularly close links with consumer groups, countryside and wildlife bodies, animal welfare organisations and academics.
While it does not intervene directly in the market place, the Ulster Farmers' Union focuses a great deal of its attention on developing access to new markets and encouraging buyers and purchasers to choose home produced supplies.
The Ulster Farmers' Union today has over 12,500 members. Members are supported by 25 regional offices and headquarters building in Belfast. The Union's commercial subsidiary, Countryside Services Ltd, is located in Dungannon.
The Union works closely with the National Farmers' Unions in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Irish Farmers' Association in Dublin.
Collectively the UK Unions support the Bureau del'Agriculture Brittanique, giving local farmers a permanent staff presence in Brussels.
The strength of the Union is clearly demonstrated by its ability to successfully represent the wide range of interests of farmers.
The UFU also provides a wide range of exclusive services to its members.
The Bursary Programme
The Ulster Farmers’ Union has been involved in the CAFRE bursary programme since its inception in 1998. The Union is pleased to play its part in encouraging young people to develop their careers in the industry. Agriculture, like any other industry is reliant on the fresh and innovative ideas which young people and new entrants to the industry will bring.
The Thomas Henry Foundation
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Background
The Foundation was created under the terms of the will dated 28 May 1847 of one Thomas Henry of Downpatrick.
Thomas Henry was an agricultural merchant based in that area and wished his estate to be used to promote education within the agricultural industry.
In the past the Foundation has financially supported post – graduate research fellowships in Agricultural and Horticultural Science and Veterinary Medicine.
It currently provides an annual scholarship awarded by the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust to suitable candidates, primarily working farmers from Northern Ireland, to participate in courses which will advance their agricultural knowledge, personal and leadership skills.
The Foundation also provides financial assistance to enable representatives of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society to attend conferences of the Royal Agricultural Society of the British Commonwealth which are held in different parts of the world.
The Bursary Programme
The CAFRE bursary programme is one in which the Thomas Henry Foundation can make a small but important contribution to ensuring the continued supply of professional managers to the industry. Young people will play a key role in its future and the Foundation is delighted to be able to help them.
The David Colegrave Foundation
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Aims of the Foundation
The Foundation seeks to support the development of the ornamental horticultural industry in the United Kingdom by financing and supporting scholarships for students interested in pursuing a career in this field.
About David Colegrave
Born in 1925, David Colegrave entered the horticultural industry as a young man when he left the UK immediately after the war to work in Canada for the old-established Canadian seed house, McKenzie Seeds. From there, his travels took him to the United States where he spent 5 years working in the flower seed production industry in California for Waller Flowerseed (a company that he would purchase in later years!), followed by another 5 years back in Europe working for Graines d’Elite Clause, the well-known French flower breeding company.
In 1962 he returned to the UK and started his own business specializing in the sale of flower seeds to professional growers. The introduction to the U.K. market by Colegrave Seeds of innovations such as F1 hybrids, heat-sealed foil packs and plug (young plant) production would help transform the bedding plant business into a significant industry, and turn Colegrave Seeds into a major British success story. Colegrave died in 1992, but his son, Jeff, continued to run the business until it was sold to Ball Horticultural Company, a major family-owned American business, in 2001.
During his career, Colegrave took a keen interest in supporting and promoting the development of young people, and it was with this in mind that the Foundation was launched shortly after his death.
College scholarships
The David Colegrave Foundation works with several of the U.K.’s premier horticultural colleges to support between 1 and 3 students at each college annually. Applications for these scholarships are made through the colleges themselves, and details can be obtained from the appropriate college authorities. As of 2008, the Foundation is working with the following colleges:
- Capel Manor College
- Hadlow College
- Pershore College
- Welsh College of Horticulture
- Writtle College
- CAFRE Greenmount Campus
Thus far, the Foundation has provided scholarship funds for almost 50 students at several horticultural colleges across the UK and Northern Ireland, as well as through the support and sponsorship of several named and sponsored scholarships. To date, over £75,000 has been provided to support students. This will be the sixth year DCF has been providing a bursary at Greenmount
The DCF is pleased to be working with CAFRE in supporting horticulture students and this year was delighted that the CAFRE students were able to visit the nursery in Banbury to see the work of the company and meet Stuart Lowen Marketing Manager for Ball Colegrave and one of the trustees of the DCF .
Stuart Lowen (far left) with CAFRE Horticulture students at Ball Colegrave
Tyrone Farming Society
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Background
Early records show that there was a Show in Omagh in 1832. In 1848 interested parties formed the Omagh, Strabane and Clogher Farming Society. Then in 1852 the Omagh Farming Society was formed as a forerunner to the present organisation. In 1883 the name of the organisation was changed to what it is at present, Tyrone Farming Society. In 1910 the Show moved to a permanent site at Sedan Avenue in Omagh where it remained until 2000. In 2002 the Society moved the Show Grounds to the present site on the Gillygooley Road in Omagh.
The Tyrone Farming Society aims to promote and improve the breeding of all classes of livestock by providing a platform through the Agricultural Show where exhibitors can show livestock in a competitive environment. The Show also aims to promote all agricultural, horticultural and other rural pursuits in the arena of the Agricultural Show.
The Bursary Programme
The aims of the Society are based on the principles of education to improve production methods, the quality of livestock and technical knowledge. With this in mind, Tyrone Farming Society feels that the provision of an annual bursary to CAFRE is an excellent way to continue the enhancement of education into the 21st century. By supporting CAFRE’s bursary programme we are pleased to be promoting the agri – food industry as a career to talented potential entrants. Our industry needs to constantly attract young talented individuals if it is to survive and thrive.
Ai Services - Northern Ireland
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Background
Ai Services (NI) Ltd is Northern Ireland’s leading provider of Breeding Services. Established in 1988, the Company is very much of co-operative ethos and is owned by over 10,000 Northern Ireland farmer shareholders in partnership with many of our leading Agri-Co-operative businesses. Genetics are the foundation building blocks of any livestock enterprise.
Ai Services (NI) Ltd is also the majority shareholder in one of the Republic of Ireland’s major Artificial Insemination and Semen Distribution companies, Eurogene-Ai Services (Ireland) Ltd, based in Cahir, Co Tipperary.
The Company also has a strong track record in business diversification, to include provision of pre-movement blood testing and other Agri-industry services, which include the management and delivery of Rural Development Programmes on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). As part of the Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership, Ai Services (NI) Ltd will be responsible for the delivery of the Focus Farms and Benchmarking Measures of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
OUR MISSION
“To improve the competitiveness of Northern Ireland Agriculture”
- via use of “best-fit genetics and breeding services” specifically designed and selected for Northern Ireland farm environment and production systems and which will value-add our produce.
- via demonstration of “good practice and technology uptake benefits”
THE BURSARY PROGRAMME
Ai Services (NI) Ltd are pleased to continue our sponsorship support of the CAFRE Bursary Programme. Greenmount Campus is truly a centre of educational excellence and will continue to be pivotal in future-proofing our agri-rural industry.
We wish all Students every success – you represent our Industry’s future.
Ulster Grassland Society
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Background
The Ulster Grassland Society (UGS) was founded in 1959. It brought together farmers, advisory officers, lecturers, research workers, and representatives from right across the agricultural commercial sector with an interest in grassland production and utilisation.
Objectives
The main objective of the UGS is to encourage the adoption into farming practices of advantages resulting from grassland research, experimental work and practical experience. It provides opportunities for those interested in, and concerned with, grassland husbandry to meet and exchange information, ideas and experiences relating to all aspects of the management, production and utilisation of grass.
British Grassland Society
The Ulster grassland Society is affiliated to the British Grassland Society (BGS) and members are able to participate in BGS activities. Members also receive complementary copies of the BGS quarterly publication ‘Grass Farmer’.
Activities
Typically, the UGS holds three major events each year. The ‘Annual Conference’ is held in early February with eminent national and international speakers. It provides the opportunity of keeping up to date with changes on the industry with an eye to practical implications and provides a forum for research workers to review and discuss their current work. The Summer Meeting usually consists of visits to farms, commercial units or research stations and takes place in early May. The ‘Autumn Meeting’ may be either a farm walk or mini-conference and usually takes place in October.
Grassland Farmer Competition
There is an annual competition open to all farmer members of the UGS and generously sponsored by the Northern Bank. The competition has a grazing management, silage utilisation and environmental practice rounds. The entrant with the best overall marks also has the opportunity to go forward to the British Grassland Society’s National Grassland Management Competition.
Student Membership Scheme
The UGS has a student membership scheme, which confers the benefits of membership free to full-time students taking Agricultural courses at Colleges or University for the duration of their studies.
The Bursary Programme
The Ulster Grassland Society has a long association with Cafre and Matt Boyd, one of the founding members of the UGS, was the Principal of Greenmount. The Ulster Grassland Society recognises the importance of higher education for new entrants into the agricultural industry and is keen to offer a bursary to support those wishing to seek a career in the agricultural industry.
