The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)

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Northern Ireland’s specialist agri-food and land-based college. Three campuses – Greenmount (Antrim), Loughry (Cookstown) and Enniskillen. Providing education and support to the NI Agri-food sector. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) offers full-time and part-time courses to educate new entrants and support staff working within the agri-food and rural sectors to improve business efficiency.

Courses:

Agriculture

The agriculture sector is one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland and produces a gross output of just under £1.5 billion each year.

With the current challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural industry it is essential that those considering a career in this sector are capable of adapting to change and availing of market opportunities.

Agriculture courses at Greenmount Campus are highly practical and business focused and aim to develop students’ skills to enable them to work either on the home farm or to pursue a career in the agriculture sector.

Students enter the industry at different levels depending on their qualifications and experience. Our graduates now hold many senior positions in the agricultural and land-based industries.

Equine

CAFRE, Enniskillen Campus delivers equine courses and supports the development of staff working in the equine sector. The equine industry is truly international with a wide range of job opportunities leading to outstanding careers available to our graduates.

CAFRE provide the widest range of equine courses in Ireland; courses which have been developed through balancing the needs of the industry with the career aspirations of students. CAFRE's aim is to assist the development of a competitive equine industry and give our students an insight into the many different local and international equine-related opportunities available.

Floristry

Floristry is a diverse and expanding business sector offering a career in a fascinating and dynamic profession that combines creativity, technical ability and business skills.

Designing floral arrangements is a creative job that requires inspiration and the ability to coordinate your vision into displays. Trends change so florists need to adapt their designs and shops if they want to stay current.

CAFRE's offer two professional floristry courses; a Level and Level 3 both of which are designed to provide training to allow florists to adapt and experiment with substrates and flowers.

CAFRE is a British Florist Association Member College with an experienced and dedicated teaching team. CAFRE offers the only full-time floristry course in Ireland. CAFRE students have an enviable reputation for competition success. CAFRE Floristry students have reached the finals of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Young Chelsea Florist of the Year Competition, with ten medals being awarded in the last eleven years. Three graduates have been presented medals in the RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year Competition in the last four years!

Food

The food and drink industry is one of the largest employers in the UK and as such requires skilled personnel to ensure a consistent supply of quality product for discerning, quality conscious consumers.

In Northern Ireland food and drink businesses are the largest contributor to sales and employment within the overall manufacturing sector. The food industry is very competitive and is constantly changing and using technical innovations to meet consumer demands. As the world population increases, food technologists are challenged with developing innovative applications in biotechnology and processing of food as well as understanding the link between food, nutrition and health.

Horticulture

Horticulture is defined by The Chartered Institute of Horticulture as:

“The science, technology, art and business of cultivating and using plants to improve human life. Horticulturists and Horticultural Scientists create global solutions for sustainable nutritious food and healthy/restorative and beautiful environments.”

The horticulture industry is valued at £10bn and employs over a third of a million people. The Northern Ireland industry is worth approximately £170m and employs about 8,000 people. Studying horticulture at Greenmount Campus will provide you with the skills to grow your career.

Student success at National and International level

Greenmount Campus has a well-qualified and experienced horticulture teaching team and CAFRE graduates have established an amazing track record for competition success. CAFRE students across all levels have been highly involved in World Skills UK competitions for over a decade. World Skills UK is like the Olympics of the skills trades with the finals held every two years in a different country throughout the world.

Each year, students have the opportunity to participate in a local heat followed up by a regional selection heat all competing for a place in the UK final. The final is held at the World Skills Live competition held each year in the NEC Birmingham. For the past several years, CAFRE Horticulture students have placed highly at Skill Live, making them eligible for the UK squad for Landscape Gardening and on to compete on the European and World stages! Making the most of opportunities has helped CAFRE students develop their CVs and secure employment within the industry.

Land Based Engineering

All those familiar with modern agriculture will appreciate the crucial role that machinery plays in the land-based engineering industry.

As machinery becomes more complex, more and more people with specialist technical training will be needed to maintain, service and repair this equipment. Given the complexity and high value of machinery, good career opportunities exist in this sector. There are also progression opportunities for those wishing to further their studies.

Veterinary Nursing

Greenmount Campus offers two Veterinary Nursing courses designed to prepare students for a career in the veterinary nursing/animal care profession.

The training provides the knowledge required to complement the practical skills acquired through working in a veterinary practice. It also helps student nurses to become valuable and highly motivated team members.

Fees:

Further education

Higher education

Head:

Martin McKendry