MBA Agri-Food charity awards record breaking £33,000 scholarship

The MBA Agri-Farm Scholarship Trust is delighted to announce that it has awarded Leicestershire farmer Paul Eggleston a record £33,000 upfront scholarship.  Ranked the 3rd best MBA in the World by the Wall Street Journal, Paul will commence the full-time one year MBA at Cranfield School of Management in September.

Farming near Melton Mowbray, Paul runs a 490 acre family dairy farm in partnership with his wife, mother and two young children. With past experience including Chairman of Vale Farmers Buying Cooperative and a seat on the Long Clawson Board as a Farmer Director, Paul makes the ideal candidate to get the most out of this unique opportunity.

The pioneering scheme which was established 5 years ago by industry peer John Beckett aims to offer farmers and agricultural professionals the opportunity to learn valuable business skills within a world class educational environment.  To date the scholarship has produced three graduates who have gone on to make their mark within the agricultural industry and there is no doubt that Paul will follow in their footsteps.

Speaking about the scholarship, Paul Eggleston said: “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to improve my business management skills and am very grateful that Mr Beckett and the Agri-Farm Trust have provided their backing. I feel strongly that with the right skills, farmers can be an asset to businesses beyond the farm gate.”

Séan Rickard, Director of the full-time MBA programme at Cranfield School of Management said:  “I am delighted that Paul Eggleston has been awarded the MBA Agri-Farm Scholarship this year and I have no doubt that both he and his farm business will benefit greatly from the Programme. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the founder of the Agri-Farm Scholarship, John Beckett, whose commitment to improving the farming industry’s management skills I wholeheartedly share and admire.”

19th April 2011