The Nuffield Farming Next-Gen Scholarship is aimed at young people aged 18-24 as part of our initiative to develop young talent.
We know the challenges that young people face to establish themselves in our industry, and this scholarship will use the Nuffield Scholar network to link successful applicants directly to farmers.
Developing Young Talent
Our Next-Gen Scholarships aim to develop young talent within the industry. It is an exciting initiative for Nuffield Farming and forms an important part of our commitment to leading positive change in agriculture.
The 2026 Nuffield Farming Next-Gen Scholarship will run a dairy and a regenerative agriculture study tour, both are open to applicants from the UK. Six scholarships have been awarded; 3 dairy and 3 regenerative agriculture. Meet our 2026 Next-Gen Scholars HERE
The 30-day study programme will take place in June/July 2026 and aims to give young people the opportunity to develop their understanding of the industry while also building networks and future opportunities.
After an induction day in London with an overview of the UK industries. You will spend the next month staying on farms with Nuffield Scholars.
The scholarship is fully funded and will include all travel and subsistence and attendance at the Nuffield Conference. It also includes Nuffield Farming Associate membership.
Applications open in November 2026 and will close on 25 February 2027.
Information about the 2026 Next-Gen Programme
The 2026 scholarship programme will be open to those in the UK with a demonstratable interest in the dairy industry. The Nuffield Dairy Study Group will enable the programme which will take place in June-July 2026.
The Regenerative Agriculture programme is an exciting addition for next year and is open to those in the UK with a demonstrable interest in Regenerative Agriculture. The Nuffield Regenerative Agriculture Study Group will enable the programme, including a visit to Groundswell, which will take place in June-July 2026.
We know the challenges that young people face to build knowledge in our industry, and this scholarship will use the Nuffield Farming Scholar network to link successful applicants directly to farmers.
This is a unique opportunity for young people at an early stage to engage with the Nuffield Farming alumni and learn from their experiences.
Applications for the 2026 Next-Gen Scholarship will open on 1st November 2025 and will close on 31 January 2026.
Interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place in early February 2026 and scholarship recipients will be announced by the end of that month.
The successful applicants will be awarded a Next-Gen Scholarship worth £6,000.
The scholarship is fully funded and will include all travel and subsistence, for the duration of the tour.
One of the challenges for young people taking up a Next-Gen scholarship is getting released from work, especially if on a family farm. The scholarship includes a financial incentive of £1000, to part cover replacement labour cost, to enable a young person to leave the farm.
The 30-day study programme aims to give young people the opportunity to develop their understanding of the industry while also building networks and future opportunities.
The 2026 Next-Gen Scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to share their experiences at the 2026 Nuffield Farming Conference, which will be held in Leeds.
Our new Next-Gen Scholarships aim to develop young talent within the industry. It is an exciting initiative for Nuffield Farming and forms an important part of our commitment to leading positive change in agriculture.
We hope that taking part in the programme will enable young people to establish themselves in the industry, while also getting a flavour of all that Nuffield Farming has to offer.
How to Apply
The 2027 Next-Gen applications will be open in November 2026.
For more information, please email Charlotte Merson: [email protected]
The deadline for applications is the 31st January 2027.
The 2026 Dairy Next-Gen Scholarships are in partnership with The Trehane Trust.
The Future for Nuffield Farming Next-Gen Scholarship
In 2024, Nuffield Farming launched the Next-Gen scholarship in Northern Ireland. Awarding three scholarships for a 28 day dairy study tour. In 2025, six scholarships were awarded; three dairy and three poultry. In 2026, three dairy and three regenerative agriculture scholarships were awarded. In 2027, we plan to award three dairy and three pig scholarships. The scholarships will be rolled out across the Nuffield Farming Arable, Aquaculture, Beef and Sheep, Horticulture, Pig, Poultry, and Regenerative Agriculture study groups.
Bronagh Dempster, 2024 dairy Next-Gen Scholar, from NI: “I’ve signed my first lease for a small parcel of land. Despite all the people that say you can’t go into farming in NI without a farming family! Small beginnings but it’s a start and I am hoping to scale from here. Once my official documents are through from the Department, I will fulfil my dream of having my own cattle. I credit this mostly to the scholarship. The people that told me I can, the people that showed me I can and the people that have advised me ever since. It showed me the art of the possible and for that, I am eternally grateful. It’s also made me incredibly motivated to learn more, push myself and provide value to others”.
The Nuffield Farming Next-Gen Scholarship is an exciting initiative for Nuffield Farming and forms an important part of our commitment to developing young talent and leading positive change in agriculture.