The first edition of the Tour de Agri took place on Tuesday, December 12. During the tour, job seekers and employees of the municipality and the UWV had a chance to learn more about work opportunities within the agricultural sector.
The participants visited two agricultural companies and a practical training institution. "The tour allowed the job seekers to get in direct touch with the company, experience the atmosphere and see what the company looks like, knocking down a lot of barriers for them," said Robert Veenstra, of the farmers' organization LTO Noord.
Many new employees are being sought within the agricultural sector. The nursery Kwekerij Wouters and the residential and care farm 't Boerenerf therefore opened their doors. 40 interested people were picked up with the PEC Zwolle players bus and were then given the tour.
At the nursery, the job seekers had the chance to see for themselves what positions the company and the sector have to offer for them. "I have worked in the sector in the past as a side job, but there has been so much innovation. I can definitely see myself working here again," said one enthusiastic job seeker afterwards.
The tour continued with a visit to Aeres MBO and some practical learning in Emmeloord. The participants were given information about the possibilities for further training. They were also given a tour of the training institution's facilities.
At the residential and care farm they had the chance to talk to both staff and residents to find out if this kind of work would suit them. "I specifically signed up for this tour to get an inside look. Agricultural companies are very open and willing to think along, based on my current situation," said one participant.
First job interviews scheduled
After a tour of the greenhouses and the farm, everyone had the chance to give their contact information so that they could get a job interview later. "We look back on a successful first edition of Tour de Agri. The first job interviews have already been scheduled and arrangements are being made for trial opportunities on the farms," said Veenstra.
"At LTO Noord, we think it is important that everyone feels welcome to come and work in our sector," said Robert Veenstra. "Employers in agriculture and horticulture are known for their approachability, so these new forms of recruiting staff are highly suited. It's always possible for anyone to take a look around and discover whether the agricultural sector is a good place for them to work.
The Tour de Agri was created as a follow-up to the Tour de Food, an initiative of Upgrade Yourself. The tour was created through a collaboration between HCA Zwolle, UWV and LTO Noord.
For more information:
Robert Veenstra
LTO Noord
[email protected]