EDGE Apprenticeships in Food & Farming will be at the Suffolk Show, giving employers and young people the opportunity to find out about working in agriculture.

The industry-led apprenticeship programme, which celebrated its first anniversary in March, has signed over 200 apprentices and offers placements for young people across the east of England. EDGE will be in the Discovery Zone at the Suffolk Show 2014.

EDGE will be bringing along members of the team and EDGE ambassadors as well as a model farm with remote control tractors for children to get involved. They will be at the stand all day offering information for both young people and potential employers. They will be happy to discuss not only apprenticeships but the wide variety of careers in Food & Farming.

EDGE is helping to raise the profile of working in the agricultural sector and increase awareness of the vast quantity of varying jobs available. EDGE Project Co-ordinator Ann Steward said: “Getting the message out to young people about how many opportunities there are in the food and farming sector is essential.” The EDGE ambassadors are volunteers dedicated to promoting careers in Food & Farming to young people, there are more than 70 trained ambassadors, with more training sessions being held throughout the year.

EDGE Apprenticeships in Food & Farming is an industry-led scheme which is supported by £1.4million of co-investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

EDGE Apprenticeships in Food & Farming is a collaborative venture between agricultural purchasing groups Anglia Farmers (AF) and AtlasFram Group, in conjunction with Easton & Otley College, New Anglia LEP, Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council.