NFU Sugar, in conjunction with British Sugar, is launching its 2015 Sugar Industry Programme (SIP); an initiative designed to engage younger growers through a dedicated training and development programme.

Now in its fifth year, the programme will see a new group of young growers learn about the sugar beet sector including how the factory operates, how NFU Sugar lobbies in Westminster and Brussels, seed production and industry research.

New participants will take part in a comprehensive programme spread over individual days between December 2014 and March 2015. Participants will travel to Brussels and visit the IRBAB, Raffinerie Tirlemontoise and SESVanderHave. They will also visit the British Sugar factory in Wissington, the British Beet Research Organisation’s Innovation Centre and will go to Westminster to learn how the NFU lobbies and influences policy.

NFU Sugar board chairman William Martin said: “The aim of this programme is to give younger growers a real and valuable experience of the work of both the NFU and British Sugar and for them to take home some new skills in the process.

“The programme has been running since 2010 and has been hugely successful so far, receiving praise and plaudits from participants and those involved.”