Sarah Smith, 48, a Beet Intake Manager with NFU Sugar, based at the Wissington Sugar factory, has just been awarded a distinction in her Level 5 Foundation Degree in Operational and Departmental Management.
Sarah worked in poultry for 16 years before joining Germains Seed Technology for three years. She began her apprenticeship while working as a production supervisor there and continued her studies when she joined NFU Sugar in 2022.
Skills for life
Sarah said: 鈥淲hen I was approached by HR and asked if I wanted to do the training, I thought: 鈥業鈥檓 too old to be an apprentice!鈥� but I manage people and teams and get results and I wanted to be able to quantify that.
鈥淚鈥檝e shown that I have the skills I need, and I鈥檝e learned to be more self-aware and self-critical, which has helped me to develop both as a person and a team leader.
鈥淚 thought 鈥� wrongly 鈥� that my management experience would make my course easier, but it鈥檚 taken a lot of hard work and dedication and hopefully I鈥檝e learned some skills that will really help me.
鈥�I thought: 鈥業鈥檓 too old to be an apprentice!鈥� but I manage people and teams and get results and I wanted to be able to quantify that.鈥�
NFU Sugar Beet Intake Manager
鈥淚 would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who really wants to upskill in their role, but it鈥檚 a lot of commitment alongside your day job, so you really have to want to do it and it has to be in something you鈥檝e got an interest in.鈥�
Sarah completed her studies supported by James Northen, NFU Head of Sugar, and the NFU People team. James said: 鈥淭hose of us who have studied while working full time and juggling family life know how hard it can be, so her result is exceptional.鈥�
