Future livestock auctioneering professionals equipped for a changing agricultural landscape

Resilient, strategically minded professionals are vital to the future of the livestock trade, says Harper Adams University lecturer Dr Mark Simcock, as seven students graduate from the Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) Certificate of Higher Education in Livestock Operations and Management. The four-year programme concluded with a graduation ceremony on Monday 5 January.

Now in its 15th year, the course has retained its core principles while evolving to reflect the demands of a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. Today’s students, Dr Simcock explains, must be increasingly strategic, adaptable and resilient as the sector responds to ongoing change.

“Agricultural support has undergone its biggest transformation since the Second World War,” he says. “The course has evolved to examine the impact of these changes on the wider industry and livestock markets, ensuring graduates are nimble enough to adapt quickly. We are developing future professionals who will champion their industry and respond confidently to policy changes.”

Dr Simcock adds that the graduation ceremony is a powerful reminder of the course’s impact: 

“It demonstrates that we are making a real difference by bringing forward people who can seize opportunities and adapt. I am confident the agricultural industry is in very good hands.”

Of the seven graduates, four were students from the LAA and three from the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS). 

The LAA graduates were Zanna Dennis (LAA and Bentham Auction Mart), Lloyd Humphreys (McCartneys LLP), Tom Pritchard (McCartneys LLP) and Jack Walton (Hexham and Northern Marts),

The Livestock Market Operations and Management course is developed by Dr Mark Simcock and run by Harper Adams University on behalf of the Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) and the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers of Scotland (IAAS).

Designed specifically for practising livestock auctioneers, a defining feature of the programme is its emphasis on networking alongside academic study, with students describing it as “50% study and 50% meeting people”. With small cohorts of around ten students per year, participants build strong professional networks that often last throughout their careers. In addition, the four LAA students achieved Fellowship status within the organisation.

Speaking about the value of the course, Jack Walton, graduate and assistant managing director and auctioneer at Hexham and Northern Marts, praised the programme, highlighting its breadth and relevance:

“It’s an excellent course that shows a different side of auctioneering. We covered everything from agricultural policy and welfare to law and taxation and gained a better understanding of the challenges farmers face. Livestock markets are social hubs, and the connections made with people from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland are invaluable.”

Fellow auctioneer, Tom Pritchard, associate partner and livestock auctioneer at Brecon and Kington Livestock Markets, McCartneys LLP, said:

“The course has helped me understand the importance of the work done before and after a sale. Ensuring you have the right buyers, staff and facilities is just as important as the sale itself, as is maintaining strong relationships with buyers and sellers afterwards.”

“I have made a lot of friends from all over the UK who I know I can call on for advice or help if needed. It has given me an insight into how farming and the marketing of livestock is done in other areas.”

Entry to the course requires employment at an LAA member mart, with one to two years’ experience recommended. The LAA encourages anyone interested in a career in livestock auctioneering to get involved with their local market or contact the Association for more information.