A new group of young beet growers is being assembled by NFU Sugar to learn more about the industry they’re involved in.

The Sugar Industry Programme (SIP) which was launched in 2010/11 in conjunction with British Sugar is an initiative designed to engage younger growers through training and development in their sector.

Now in its fifth year, 15 new participants comprising ten growers, four British Sugar staff and one BBRO research staff member will take part. During the programme, spread over different days between now and March 2015, the participants will learn about what lies behind the different steps of the UK sugar beet supply chain and how the NFU influences, adopts and communicates policy to growers.

The new group opens the programme today with a media training session before visiting the Germains seed processing facilities in Kings Lynn on Wednesday. Additional dates looking at the UK sector will include the British Beet Research Organisation’s Innovation Centre in Norwich and the Wissington Sugar factory. Participants will also travel to Brussels and Westminster in the New Year to learn how the NFU lobbies and influences policy directly affecting their sector.

Chief adviser for NFU Sugar Ruth Digby 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 from the training courses provided.

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