The Bishop of Norwich is sponsoring a new competition to select a young employee of the year, with a cash prize of £1,000. The competition, in partnership with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, will be open to employees and apprentices, under the age of 21, who work for a Norfolk-based employer.
Applicants will work within the land-based sector and their employment or apprenticeship will focus on one or more of the following areas: land management, conservation, countryside management, ecology, climate change management, forestry management and horticulture.
This prestigious award will be an accolade which the winner can use to enhance their cv and help with future employment prospects. It will also raise the profile of land-based environment employment opportunities and apprenticeship schemes within Norfolk.
The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, said:
“I am delighted to launch, in partnership with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, the Bishop of Norwich Sustainable Environment Young Employee of the Year Award. This award, with its £1000 prize, aims to encourage and support young apprentices or employees from Norfolk, who are starting out in their career caring for the natural environment. I am passionate about the care of God’s creation, and how biodiversity can be enhanced, and I hope that this award will inspire the next generation to appreciate the natural world as much as I have in my life.”
Mark Nicholas, Managing Director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), said:
“The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association is delighted to have worked with the Bishop of Norwich to launch this important Award for young employees and apprentices. It is the RNAA’s charitable purpose to encourage the skills to advance the protection and safeguarding of the environment, and this Award is a welcome opportunity to shine the spotlight on some inspiring work being undertaken by our young people. We very much look forward to celebrating the Bishop of Norwich Sustainable Environment Young Employee of the Year at the Royal Norfolk Show.”
Dr Shannon Woodhouse, Manager of the Food & Farming Discovery Trust (FFDT), said:
“The Food and Farming Discovery Trust is thrilled to be involved in the Bishop of Norwich Sustainable Environment Young Employee of the Year Award. It is important that we encourage and celebrate those that are starting out their career in the protection, maintenance and development of the natural environment, to help us press for a more sustainable future.”
The FFDT, which is the education vehicle of the RNAA, will be undertaking the shortlisting and judging of the competition.
The winner will be presented with their prize by the Bishop of Norwich and the President of the RNAA, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, at the Royal Norfolk Show on Thursday 30 June 2022.
The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize to help fund the individual’s training requirements, two tickets to the Royal Norfolk Show, and a certificate.
HOW TO APPLY
To enter applicants are asked to submit a homemade video (e.g. made on a smart phone) not exceeding five minutes in duration which covers the following:
• A brief introduction about themselves
• Why they selected their current employment/apprenticeship
• How the employment/apprenticeship his helping to prepare them for career development
• Why they are interested in environmental issues, what they have done about this already within their employment/apprenticeship, and how they hope to make a difference to this area particularly during their current employment/apprenticeship but also in their future careers.
• A letter of recommendation from their employer
Applications are to be submitted to Dr Shannon Woodhouse no later than 0900 hours on Monday 16 May 2022. Applications are to be submitted by email to Shannon.woodhouse@rnaa.org.uk (videos should be submitted by using WeTransfer).
Those shortlisted will meet a panel of judges drawn from the Trustees and Advisory Group of the Food & Farming Discovery Trust.
The winner will be presented with their prize by the Bishop of Norwich at the Royal Norfolk Show on Thursday 30 June 2022.
The winner will receive:
£1,000 cash prize to help fund the individual’s training requirements, two tickets to the Royal Norfolk Show, and a certificate.
The application deadline is 0900 hours on Monday 16 May.
