Bursaries and Scholarships
The 2025 Oxford Farming Conference, running from 8 to 10 January will once again support more than 40 individuals through bursaries and scholarships, allowing them to attend the event, which will look at "Facing Change, Finding Opportunity".
With a strong focus on networking and social activities and a commitment over the last few years to develop OFC so it is as inclusive and accessible as possible, these scholarships and bursaries will enable those who may otherwise face social or economic barriers, the opportunity to experience one of the UK’s leading agricultural events.
Our leadership and networing development programme, Inspire, is closed for applications for the 2025 Conference.
The Scholars Programme is now open.
The OFC Scholars' Programme aims to give young people the opportunity for peer-to-peer networking and to share views and ideas, while gaining access to key skills development training. We firmly believe that the exciting 2025 OFC scholars programme provides an excellent opportunity for Scholars to experience the UK’s leading agricultural conference while gaining valuable skills to foster leaders of tomorrow.
Any sponsor, organisation or group can book a Scholar place for OFC25. It is then up to them how they nominate the individual that will receive the opportunity. For some, they do an open call and ask for applications, others will have already identified the individual they wish to send, for example, it could be an apprentice who works for them, the chair of a voluntary group or a young person who has won a competition.
Organisations, companies and charities that want to support scholars to attend have been doing so for many years, any new supporters are encouraged to get in touch for more details, email secretariat@ofc.org.uk for more details.
The programme welcomes a broad diversity of individuals, including those from non-traditional sectors and backgrounds, and reflecting a broad diversity of geographical and academic experience. We also encourage and welcome applicants from outside of the agriculture sector including those who haven't studied agri-food subjects.
We ask that Scholars should be aged 18-30 years and have not previously attended the conference. We also encourage Scholars to be appointed by end of September 2024 to ensure Sponsors and Scholars obtain maximum value from the programme.
Once the scholar place has been booked and paid for, OFC will then get in touch with them and invite them to be part of the programme, where they will benefit from a range of training, webinars and an exclusive session at OFC25.
Applications are now open for the Breaking Barriers programme.
As part of our commitment to encouraging and supporting diversity and inclusion we launched the landmark Breaking Barriers Scholarship five years ago. For OFC 2025, the Breaking Barriers Scholarship, in partnership with McDonald's will support eight individuals. This unique opportunity is open for people aged 18-30 years old, who identify as Black or Person of Colour (BPOC) and have an interest in the food, farming, and agricultural sector. Individuals do not have to be working or studying in the sector currently. Closing date 12 August 2024 at 5pm GMT.
The fully-funded Breaking Barriers programme includes the complete OFC 2025 Scholars programme PLUS additional benefits.
Click here to find out more and apply
Applications open for the 2025 conference in September 2024
To further the OFC's charitable objectives, the voluntary Council of Directors have been working to secure support from businesses and trusts, to enable the conference to offer bursaries to individuals who may otherwise be unable to attend the event due to financial constraints.
Awarded to individuals who are actively working in the food, farming and agricultural sector, or with an evidenced pathway to enter the industry, these bursaries will fully-fund the cost of a ticket to the conference in Oxford from 8 to 10 January 2025, as well as offering a small grant for use towards travel and accommodation. This is kindly supported by NFU Mutual Charitable Trust and other partners.
Applicants will be responsible for covering their own meal costs.
You must be a resident in the UK, and OFC is keen to see applications from individuals who may have recently moved to the country as a result of conflict overseas.
CRITERIA
- 18 years of age or over
- Not attend the Oxford Farming Conference before
- Able to attend the full two-day conference in Oxford in January 2025
- Resident in the UK
- Facing social or economic barriers that might prevent attendance, at this time.
Click here to find out more and apply
Applications are closed for 2025
The Inspire Programme enables ambitious candidates from the rural and agri-food sector to attend the Oxford Farming Conference, develop their own network and leadership skills, and receive support from industry bodies and professionals, ahead of the conference. It is kindly supported by BASF Agricultural Solutions and TIAH.
CRITERIA
- 30 to 45 years of age
- Actively involved in the rural, food and/or farming sector
- Not attended OFC in the last three years
- Not participated in the Inspire Programme before
- Able to attend the full conference in January 2025
- Able to attend the pre-conference Inspire day away in London in November 2024
- Able to meet your own transportation costs for all events included in the programme
- Resident in the UK
