McDonald’s UK & Ireland
McDonald’s works with over 23,000 British and Irish farmers, who help to produce the quality ingredients that make the food they’re famous for. McDonald’s is committed to both the futures of their farmers and that of the farming industry, which is why they build close relationships with those they work with and invest in research, with the aim of changing farming for the better.
To help them do this, McDonald’s has two flagship farming programmes: Farm Forward and the Progressive Young Farmers Programme.
Farm Forward was created after consulting with over 1,500 farmers and has three big aims; developing skills and knowledge, raising animal welfare standards and making environmental improvements. McDonald’s constantly talks to the farmers they work with, ensuring Farm Forward is always relevant and useful to them.
Progressive Young Farmers Programme provides an opportunity for students to learn about the McDonald’s supply chain during their placement year. They follow products from the farms McDonald’s use, through to restaurants and get the opportunity to work with a number of different suppliers, farmers and stakeholders around the country. The programme also includes mentoring by a farmer who supplies McDonald’s with beef, chicken, potatoes, pork, dairy or eggs. Throughout the placement, Progressive Young Farmers will be expected to undertake specific projects to gain a better understanding of sustainability and technical efficiency within the supply chain (food processing) and on farm.
For more information about these programmes and McDonald’s’ commitment to farming, please visit www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/good-to-know/farming.html
Scholars Sponsored
Only most recent are listed.
- 2025
Ben Lowe
Getting the chance to farm in my own right has always been a dream and something I am very proud of achieving. Being a partner of HB Farms we are an indoor pig and arable unit in the northeast of...
- 2025
Alex Crawley
Necessity is the mother of invention……As a first generation, new entrant farmer without a farm in my early 40s I’ve looked to technology and innovation to start in Agriculture. Using my background in...
- 2024
Liz Haines
After studying English at University, I began a career in book publishing, specialising in Autism and Special Educational Needs. I made the leap into dairy farming in 2013 with my husband, when we...
- 2024
Dan Smith
Built on strong foundations from a farming upbringing in the UK, I have a soil-up understanding of the complexities facing rural and environmental industries alongside global social challenges. I have...
- 2023
Andrew Sincock
I grew up on my Grandparents mixed Dairy, Beef and Arable farm in Cornwall and, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t escape agriculture as a profession. After a number of years experiencing all that...
- 2023
Harry Barnett
I am originally from South Lincolnshire but now reside in North Norfolk on the beautiful Holkham Estate where my wife and I both work. I have been running the potato growing enterprise on the estate...
- 2022
Toby Simpson
Having grown up on the family farm in Northamptonshire I graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Politics. After 6 months travelling I went to Sandhurst and served a short service commission with the Grenadier Guards. - 2022
Chris Taylor
I am passionate and optimistic about the future of UK agriculture. After studying Agriculture at Harper Adams University College, I was selected for the Co-operative Farms Management Trainee Scheme, which gave me a great insight into large scale arable farming. Since 2014, - 2021
Claire Whittle
I am a farm animal vet by trade, and work in mainly dairy practice in and around the Northwest . An unusual career choice, growing up in urban Liverpool, but as I got older I became more interested...
- 2021
Navaratnam (Theeb) Partheeban
As a farm vet and dairy technical specialist for a global animal health company, I work all over the UK. Following qualification in Edinburgh, I have worked in clinical practice, the pharmaceutical...
- 2020
Angus Russell
Having been raised on the 400 Ha family owned arable Toft farm in Warwickshire alongside my parents a passion for a career in agriculture was ignited from a young age. I attended Warwick school for boys and left to study a 3 year extended diploma at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, completing all courses and training available to me. - 2020
Samuel Smith
I studied engineering at Cardiff University, motivated by a curiosity of how things work and the way design can help people live better lives. My interests in food and farming came later. During University, I became more aware of the environmental stresses we are placing on the planet, so I turned towards attention towards renewable energy and was fortunate to have the opportunity to study an MSc in Sustainable Energy. - 2019
James Smaldon
I grew up on a small hill farm in North Devon, on the foothills of Exmoor. I now live nearby with my fiancée Katie and our labrador, Henry. After leaving school, I studied Mathematics and Computer Science at Bristol University, before joining an engineering consultancy as a graduate engineer. Whilst at this consultancy, I completed a Masters degree in Transportation Planning & Engineering. - 2019
Dan Burdett
I am a third generation dairy farmer from West Sussex, milking 300 organic cows on a simple autumn calving system. Although I grew up on a dairy farm and loved driving tractors, my life was destined to be lived in the urban jungle. At 18 I escaped the countryside and studied Business Studies at the University of Derby. - 2018
Jonathan Gill
I am a qualified robotic engineer with 12 years of experience specialising in mechatronic systems I started out working on oil rigs with a ROV team in the harsh offshore environment. - 2018
Joe Towers
Following a degree in Agri-food Marketing at Harper Adams University I joined our family milk processing business which was being operated on the family farm and supplying small local businesses with...
- 2017
Iwan Vaughan
Growing up on the family farm at Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant in Mid Wales, I always knew my future would be within the agricultural industry. The family runs a 200ha mixed farm, comprising of the dairy...
- 2017
Richard Tudor
I live and farm in the uplands of Mid Wales in a culturally rich Welsh speaking area, along with my wife Catrin and children Morgan and Lois. I have a passion for progressive livestock farming and...
“We’ve been working with Nuffield Farming for over 4 years and are proud to have supported 10 McDonald’s scholars during that time. The research that is conducted through this scheme is imperative for the future of the agriculture industry - and with the support that Nuffield provides, the programme presents an incredible opportunity for those looking to initiate real change.”