BPEX has now joined forces with Merial and Nuffield Farming Scholarships to take that a stage further by creating an award specifically for the pig industry.

The Nuffield Trust awards study grants to enthusiastic people to further the practice of agriculture through travel.

On their return, scholars spread their newly gathered knowledge widely and provide leadership to the industry. The criteria for a successful candidate are simple - enthusiastic, willing and able.

Support for potential scholars is provided during the application process, and continues throughout the whole experience.

Chairman of Pig Industry Skills Development Richard Longthorp said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for the pig industry and for people in the industry to make a positive contribution.

"I am going to be encouraging as many people as possible to apply and urging others in the industry to do the same.

"The decision by BPEX, Merial and Nuffield to create a pig industry specific award will hopefully send a clear message that the pig industry, across the piece from farm through to marketing through to processing and retail, should be enthusiastically engaging with this long established flagship award.

"Nuffield has an impressive and enviable track record of firstly identifying scholarship candidates and then funding them to carry out study tours which history tells us nearly always benefits their own business and the wider industry.

"It makes far more sense for the pig industry to piggy back on an already proven and successful scheme rather than to create its own."

Andrew Buglass, Product Manager for CIRCOVAC^®   PCV2 vaccine said: "Merial is delighted to team up with BPEX to sponsor this new Nuffield scholarship dedicated to the pig industry.

"It is a great opportunity for the successful candidate to gain insights into the industry elsewhere in the world and to return with ideas and innovations to implement at home, not forgetting the opportunity to have some fun and make new friends along the way."

Recent scholars from the pig industry include:

Robert Lasseter who looked at opportunities for independent pig producers - Pigs, Passion and Provenance - for Profit; Cameron Naughton who studied co-operation and working relationships between the links in the UK pig meat supply chain; Chris Fogden examined opportunities for further co-operation in the UK pig sector while Wendy Kent studied production systems for improving the quality and consistency of pig meat.

More information and application forms can be found on the Nuffield website www.nuffieldscholar.org or if you would like to discuss a potential project please contact Meryl Ward: merylward@farmline.com

The closing date for applications this year is November 15, with interviews taking place between January 19 and 21, 2009.