As part of our regular series of profiles on the region's Young Farmers' Club members, LOUIS COOPER explains how an apprenticeship has helped him towards a career in agricultural engineering.

I have been interested in farming since I was young, and I did my Year 10 work experience with Ben Burgess at Beeston which led to me getting a Saturday job there.

When I finished school in 2016 I knew what I wanted to do – so I was really pleased to get an apprenticeship with Ben Burgess.

My job has a lot of variety. I could be doing something really simple like changing a light bulb one minute, and then the next minute I'm stripping out an engine. When my apprenticeship finishes, I will have gained a Level 2 and 3 diploma as a land-based technician, and hopefully a full-time job.

As part of my apprenticeship, Ben Burgess provides me with training opportunities at the John Deere Training Centre in Langer, Nottinghamshire. I stay for a few days at a time and complete the written part of my apprenticeship. Also I get to study with other lads who do the same or very similar or jobs as me. I have my teleporter certificate and have now finished the first year of my apprenticeship, which I am very proud of. I am really looking forward to the next two years.

Through being part of Young Farmers I have made so many more friends, and have been given lots of opportunities to do new things. Some of the talks we have had from big agricultural companies can be really useful to me working within the farming industry.

Even though I work in farming, you don't have to be a farmer to come along to Young Farmers; it's just a social gathering of young people who enjoy the outdoors.

In five years' time I want to be fully qualified as an agricultural engineer. I can't wait to pass my driving test so that I can make my own way to work and to our weekly Swaffham Young Farmers meetings.

PROFILE:

Name: Louis Cooper.

Age: 17.

Occupation: Apprentice agricultural engineer at Ben Burgess.

YFC Club: Swaffham.

How long have you been a YFC member?: Since the club started, two years ago.

Swaffham YFC meets at The Peddars Inn at Sporle on Wednesday evenings. For more details about Norfolk Young Farmers contact the county office on 01603 731307.