AGRICULTURE AS a viable career path continues to face negative stereotypes of being low skilled and low paid. However, there are plans afoot to educate the next generation on the exciting job opportunities on offer within the sector.

There is a need to address education in schools, which has inspired the launch of #ThisIsAgriculture campaign.

Supported by 19 businesses from across the agricultural industry, a new interactive, digital magazine is being sent to secondary school teachers and career services advisors to share with their students.

This, coupled with a huge lack of understanding about the career opportunities available, means many people still hold outdated, stereotypical views of what agriculture is and what it has to offer.

Yet there is no other industry which can claim global influence and positive impact over clean energy, human and animal welfare, food science, precision data and technology.

“Job security, making a difference and achieving a work/life balance are top of the list for talented young people looking to embark on their careers,” said National Careers Week chief executive, Nick Newman.

“We are excited to share this content on a social media platform that sees stratospheric activity throughout the whole of National Careers Week.”

The industry is progressing at an incredible rate and contrary to the belief agriculture is low skilled and offers low pay, salaries can be very attractive.

For example, the average starting salary for an agriculture engineer is £24,000, software researcher £25,000, and environmental researcher can expect to enter at a similar level.

Agriculture is at the cutting-edge of modern technology and at the forefront of innovations in key areas such as IT, forensics, engineering, automation and design.