The SIP (Sugar Industry Programme) includes a series of events, spread across 1 鈥� 2 days between October 2025 and March 2026, with opportunities for you to develop your knowledge, learn new professional skills and build your networks.
Network and share ideas
鈥淲hether you鈥檝e just started working with sugar beet or grown up with it, the programme offers so much to take your understanding to a deeper level.鈥�
SIP participant Alex Clabon
Alex farms alongside his parents at H G Bliss Farms Ltd on the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border and participated in the programme in 2023/24.
He said: 鈥淭he SIP is something I would highly recommended to anybody currently within the sector wanting to learn more about the sugar industry鈥澛�
鈥淚t provides an invaluable opportunity to go into detail and learn about the inner workings and processes all the way from seed to processing. Whether you鈥檝e just started working with sugar beet or grown up with it, the programme offers so much to take your understanding to a deeper level.
鈥淭he programme truly does cover all aspects from seed priming and coating, to learning about the invaluable work from the BBRO to the processing at one of the British Sugar factories. Alongside this it also shows the behind the scenes work of NFU Sugar and the NFU Sugar Board, as well as having the opportunity to further yourself personally and professionally by taking part in media training and connecting with those across multiple sectors at NFU Conference.
鈥淥ne of my highlights had to be travelling to Westminster to help showcase the homegrown sugar industry to MPs and stress the importance of a thriving sugar industry. Another was travelling to the Strube seed house and research centre in Sollingen, Germany. It was really eye opening to see the work that goes into the breeding process for new varieties, as well as how sugar beet is viewed on the continent and the differing challenges that they face.鈥�
Strube seed house and research centre trip
Alex added: 鈥淭he SIP really does offer a huge benefit in terms of making connections with others throughout the different areas of the industry. The SIP is open to those across the sugar industry which provides a fantastic opportunity to make connections for life, network and share ideas from different corners of the industry.鈥�
鈥楢 unique opportunity鈥�
Katrina Pearson works as an Inbound Operations Manager at British Sugar鈥檚 Wissington factory, and took part in the 2023/24 SIP.
She said: 鈥淚鈥檇 highly recommend joining the Sugar Industry programme to anyone considering it, because it offers great opportunities for growth and learning within the wider sugar beet industry.
鈥淪ome of the highlights for me were the trip to Westminster, attending the NFU conference, and visiting Strube in Germany. These experiences were not only educational but also fascinating, as they highlighted the many different avenues taken to ultimately produce sugar.
鈥淭hrough the SIP programme, I have significantly expanded my network, connecting with individuals from a wide range of roles across the beet industry. This has allowed me to form strong, collaborative working relationships.
鈥淭he programme鈥檚 inclusive nature 鈥撀� welcoming participants from all areas within the beet industry 鈥撀� offers a unique opportunity to engage with professionals I might not have otherwise encountered.鈥�
