Join the future of the Industry: Meet the Trainees agri-food networking event

Join the future of the Industry: Meet the Trainees agri-food networking event


Join us for the future of the food, fresh produce and horticultural industry at our 2023 Meet the Trainees agri-food networking careers event!

This is an exclusive opportunity for businesses and industry representatives to network with a talented pool of brilliant future leaders. After last year’s largest-ever Meet the Trainees, our 2023 event, returning Monday 19th June, is set to be even better. This is the chance for your business to connect with some of the brightest minds in the industry and witness first-hand the potential that lies ahead.

The Format

This year’s event will take place at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham, a state-of-the-art venue that has been purpose-built to offer the ultimate event experience. With ample free parking and excellent transport links, getting to and from the event will be hassle-free. The venue’s spacious layout and cutting-edge technology makes it an ideal location for networking and showcasing your brand. The MDS team and EMCC’s expert staff and will be on hand throughout the day to ensure everything runs smoothly, allowing you to focus on connecting with like-minded professionals and future leaders.

We have designed the event with the needs of our Member organisations and Trainees in mind. MDS understands that every company has its own unique brand identity, which is why we are providing each business with a suitable space, table, and chairs. We recommend bringing small pop-up banners to make your space stand out and showcase your company’s brand in the best possible light. Our aim is to create an environment that is conducive to networking and collaboration, where attendees can meet and engage with like-minded professionals in the food and fresh produce industry.

New Additions

We are also thrilled to announce a new and exciting addition to the event, open to all attendees. Our morning panel will be hosted by Beanstalk Global’s Max MacGillivray and will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to learn from the best in the business and engage in meaningful discussions crucial to our sector. Stay tuned for further announcements on topics and guests.

Meet the Trainees is a completely free food networking event to attend for all MDS Member companies.  Our event is an investment in the future of the industry, and we want to make it accessible to everyone who shares our passion for developing talented young professionals. This means that all aspects of the event, including lunch, are free of charge and exclusive to MDS Members.

Members will also have the option to attend a lunchtime forum to discuss how MDS could collaborate with businesses to offer Agronomy training and specialised agronomy roles. Member representatives are welcome to join us for lunch and an open conversation on this topic.

Awards and Networking

We believe that recognising and celebrating excellence is an essential part of inspiring and motivating future leaders. Our awards ceremony will take place in the afternoon and is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our Trainees, Members, and the wider industry. The ceremony will be a highlight of the event, and we encourage all attendees to stay and enjoy this exciting occasion.

We urge all Member companies to attend and make the most of this opportunity to develop their leadership pipeline and collaborate with like-minded MDS Member organisations and industry representatives.

Please confirm your attendance via our dedicated Eventbrite registration form before the deadline on Monday 5th June.

The event is expected to be in high demand, so don’t miss this chance to network and collaborate with over 120 of the brightest professionals with a passion to work in the industry.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to shape the future of our industry together.

Here’s what we got up to last year: