Farmers Weekly Award nominees visit Lightsource bp UK solar farm

This year, Lightsource bp is proud to be sponsoring the “Ag Student of the Year” category at the Farmers Weekly Awards. These awards are most prestigious awards in the agriculture industry, recognising farmers’ achievements across the country, and as a company dedicated to supporting the rural economy we’re delighted to be a part of it in 2023.

British solar has gone hand in hand with British farming since the early days of the industry – in order to generate sustainable, renewable electricity and combat the energy and climate crises, we are heavily reliant on farmers and landowners. As such, Lightsource bp is committed to supporting not just the individual farmers and businesses that lease land to our projects, but the farming industry as a whole. Sponsorships of rural events (Royal Three Counties Show, Badminton Horse Trials) and partnerships with leading rural organisations (NFU, CLA) are a crucial part of this endeavour, and the Ag Student of the Year award sponsorship is new ground this year.

The award celebrates students studying an agricultural related degree, NVQ or BTEC course at a British university or college, and this year’s judging panel has selected three finalists bursting with talent, achieving great results, showing leadership and having a positive impact on their college, community or home farm.

This week, Lightsource bp welcomed two of the three Ag Student of the Year nominees to our 5MWp Manor Farm Eggington solar project, for a guided tour of the site, accompanied by our expert engineers and solar farm landowner Richard Sears. The nominees walked the site, getting a good look at how the equipment functions and the sheep grazing between the panels, and discussed the ways in which diversification can impact farm businesses, via solar leases and beyond. It was a really interesting morning, with lots of important questions raised around the relationship between solar and farming and the future of both in the UK.

Lightsource bp will be presenting the Ag Student of the Year award at the celebratory dinner on the 5th of October in London, and look forward to seeing which of the three impressive nominees will walk away victorious this year.