Life at Corteva with Fran Gwilliam
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Across Corteva we are fortunate to have interns, like Fran Gwilliam, providing a fresh perspective and learning what life at Corteva is like, working to support farmers and enrich lives.
Fran joined the Marketing Communications & CRM team in April 2023 for a 6-month internship. In this article we hear more about Fran’s experience working at Corteva UK & Ireland.
What can you tell us about yourself?
I graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2022 with a BSc in Psychology and then joined the MDS (Management Development Services) graduate scheme with a passion to learn more about the food and agricultural industry and how we can support British growers. MDS provided the perfect avenue into the industry and opportunity to learn on the job, with four different 6-month secondments at four different companies within the sector. This graduate scheme was the perfect chance to get involved in varying aspects of the supply chain and find my fit!
My first secondment was at a strawberry nursery packhouse in Somerset, working in quality control and support to ensure that the best quality of strawberries were sent to UK supermarkets. This role provided the perfect insight into the industry and ignited my love (and perfectionism) for strawberries.
What inspired you to apply for the internship at Corteva?
My second secondment as part of the MDS scheme found me at Corteva Agriscience, working as part of the marketing department as a Marketing Communications and CRM assistant, based in Cambridge. This role has provided invaluable experience and great exposure to the agriscience sector, enabling me to attend fantastic events representing the brand.
Not knowing much about Corteva before I joined, I know that I would choose to return in a heartbeat if presented with the opportunity again. I worked with an amazing marketing team and the company vision and values are apparent in all the work that is done. A perfect role and opportunity to continue my professional development within the industry!
What has a typical day at Corteva been like for you?
A role within the marketing communications team at Corteva means there is rarely two days that are the same. Whether it be a day organising events and social media campaigns or working on exciting projects such as our Resilient and Ready programme.
Also, as part of my CRM responsibilities, I have worked with Corteva's customer database to understand customer engagement and ensure data privacy processes take place. This involved introducing new processes for managing data and generating reports for our Sales team, all to provide our customers with the best possible experience and ensure that their data is secure and up to date.
What have the highlights been of this role?
The highlights of working at Corteva for me has been the opportunity to be involved in huge industry events, such as Cereals Event 2023, as well as being involved in farm engagement projects such as the Corteva Resilient and Ready programme, working alongside LEAF and 2 fantastic farms. I have also been fortunate to have worked with an excellent team that were willing to support me every step of the way and have pushed me to learn and develop my skill set within my role!
Do you have any advice for people wanting to enter the agricultural sector?
Having entered the industry from a completely alternative avenue and been lucky enough to work for Corteva as part of the MDS scheme, I would strongly recommend the graduate programme to all. A versatile experience, unique to each trainee, across the food and agricultural industry providing the opportunity to work for incredible companies, such as Corteva, and gain insights into a sector that is facing constant challenges and changes.
I would encourage all those looking to join the industry to be willing to learn and challenge themselves to make the most out of the opportunities presented. You are never too late to learn and develop yourself.
I am very proud of my development within the sector so far and I owe a lot to those at Corteva who put their time into helping me grow! I would like to extend a massive thanks to the Corteva team and look forward to seeing their continued growth whilst I continue mine. My next placement takes me to herb growers in Chichester working within the commercial team!
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If you are looking for an internship with a difference, Corteva is the right choice, providing valuable learning experiences. Find out more about our careers and internships at Corteva and join our talent network here.