Philip Buchanan – CAFRE Alumni

Philip Buchanan a former CAFRE, Loughry Campus student, took some time to tell me about his education, career and passion for the Northern Ireland agri-food industry. 

What course did you study at CAFRE? 

I was brought up and worked on the family beef and sheep farm, I always knew I wanted a career in the agri-food industry. After my GCSEs, I completed a Level 2 Diploma in Agriculture at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus.  I decided I wanted to learn more about food processing and quality management and moved to Loughry Campus to study the National Diploma in Food Technology.   I enjoyed the hands-on practical nature of the ND programme and enjoyed my studies so much that I progressed to the BSc (Hons) in Food Technology, which is validated by Ulster University. As part of my degree, I completed a 48 week industrial placement at Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification (NIFCC) where I gained valuable experience working within the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme.  After I graduated in 2020, I was offered full time employment as a Procurement Manager at WD Meats. 

Why did you decide to study at CAFRE? 

I had always known that CAFRE offered a great balance between practical and theory within their courses and knew this “learning by doing” style of delivery would suit me well. I soon realised that I had made the right decision and that studying at Loughry would provide me with a great opportunity to start my career in the food industry. I was very impressed by the extensive food production, innovation and science facilities on offer.  

What is your current job and responsibilities? 

I am currently the Procurement Manager at WD Meats, based in Coleraine. I have been in this role for almost three years. My main responsibilities are purchasing cattle, organising a steady supply of cattle for slaughter, planning to ensure production can run and that the correct numbers of cattle are available to meet orders.  I really enjoy seeing how the type of cattle I purchase can affect the end-product and quality of food.  Studying Food Technology at Loughry Campus provided me with a strong basis to take on this procurement role.  I developed skills in food manufacture, procurement, quality management systems, continuous improvement and innovation as well as developing management and team working skills  I found the relevant course content and practical skills allowed me to adapt quickly to the working environment. 

What advice would you give a new graduate? 

There is such a vast range of career opportunities available within the agri-food industry and it is important to take every opportunity that comes your way.  It is fine to not know exactly what role you want when you graduate but by taking every opportunity you can learn as you progress. Follow whatever you are interested in and network as much as possible to make good contacts. If working in the agri-food industry interests you, I encourage you to look at the further and higher education courses available at CAFRE.