JSR Academy is open for September 2024

New and improved JSR Academy is open for applicants!

The new and improved JSR Academy is now open for applicants to apply and start work at JSR farms this September, learning all the skills you need for a successful career in the UK pig industry.

JSR is one the largest family farming companies in the UK, and the JSR Academy aims to inspire, train and educate people in pig production to the highest UK standards.

JSR comprises of two different businesses; JSR Farms an integrated arable business farming over 3,000 hectares in East Yorkshire, and JSR Genetics an international pig genetics company.  All of the crops grown on the farm are fed to our commercial pig herd, and in turn the manure is used as fertiliser adding organic matter back into the soil.

The JSR Academy Training Scheme

The JSR Academy was set up in 2019, to encourage young people into a career within the pig industry with the intent of teaching and mentoring trainees to the highest standards in the UK.

Over the last four years the JSR Academy has trained some top-class students, who have gone on to become respected stock people within JSR Farms, all with excellent career prospects and progression opportunities.

2024 sees the relaunch of the JSR Academy, a fully structured training programme, covering all aspects of pig production over an 18-month period.  The training scheme is mainly hands on learning, with a small amount of classroom work to ensure all trainees reach their full potential.  Students will gain recognised qualifications including City & Guilds amongst others.

Trainees spend time in all parts of the JSR pig business including our brand-new leading-edge freedom farrowing pig unit which opened earlier this year, to our state-of-the-art AI stud, nucleus units, nurseries and finishing units, alongside working with industry experts and the geneticists within JSR Genetics.

Learn from industry experts

The JSR Academy is planned and managed by Genna Kerry, who, herself joined JSR after leaving college and has progressed from a Stockperson to Head Stockperson to Assistant Manager, where her passion and desire for vocational training was realised. Genna then became the Training Manager at JSR, where as well as looking after the training needs of existing staff, she also trains and manages the JSR Academy trainees. Genna’s passion for pigs is infectious and certainly rubs off on the trainees!

Genna says:

“I have been very fortunate to have found a career that I love and have been guided and trained by some great people when I was starting out.  To be able to help and guide others now in their own careers is really rewarding. 

We’ve had some brilliant trainees through the JSR Academy, and it’s great to see them develop in the pig industry just like I have. 

I’m really excited about the new and improved training scheme and getting a new batch of students through the door this September.”

The Academy will be open to four trainees per year starting in September 2024 and is open to anyone over the age of 18.  There will be a 45-week training plan followed by a six-month placement on one of our pig units, giving valuable experience to back up the knowledge gained from the programme.

On the job training

The opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’ makes the JSR Academy an excellent choice for anyone wanting to get into a rewarding career.  No qualifications are needed for this role, just a positive attitude, an excellent work ethic and a passion for the welfare of our pigs is essential.

If this is something you may be interested in, please email your CV and covering letter to Genna Kerry: genna.kerry@jsr.co.uk

For more information visit our JSR Academy page on our website.

Read other stories related to the JSR Academy on our website:

JSR Academy: what our past trainees have to say

JSR Academy pig training scheme off to a good start