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Charlotte Collins

Food Technology with Product Development

Where did the love of food start for you, Charlotte?

I’ve always been interested in food — I grew up baking and cooking with my mum, and it’s been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. But for a long time, I didn’t realise you could turn that passion into a career outside of being a chef or working in catering.

Everything changed during my food technology GCSE. I had an incredible teacher who’d previously worked at Cadbury as a Development Technologist, and it was the first time I realised there were exciting roles like that in the food industry. It sparked something in me — and I started looking into degree courses that could help me follow that path.

Most of the food-related degrees I came across were heavily focused on science or nutrition, which didn’t quite fit with my interests. I knew I wanted something more creative and hands-on, and that’s exactly what stood out about Harper Adams. The food courses here felt unique — practical, holistic, and geared towards real careers like product development and innovation, which is exactly what I wanted.

So, you’ve found the right course – what did you do next?

Next, I came for an Open Campus Day and absolutely fell in love with the place. I could immediately picture myself living and studying at Harper — the sunshine and incredible scenery on the day definitely helped!

I then attended an online Open Day, which made me feel even more confident in my decision. Moving far from home, from a city to the countryside, was incredibly daunting — but the friendliness of the staff and the welcoming feel of the campus made it clear that Harper was the right place for me.

You mentioned how daunting the move was at first — how did you find stepping into the working world during placement?

My studies led me to an incredible placement doing my dream job — working as a Development Technologist at Premier Foods on Cadbury, Plantastic, and Mr Kipling cakes!

I spent 15 months there and had the most amazing experience. Clearly, I made an impression, as I’ll be returning to the Mr Kipling team at Premier Foods once I finish my studies in June.

Congratulations! How has Harper Adams prepared you for this exciting next chapter? 

Oh, I’ll be putting everything I’ve learned over the past four years into practice — from technical knowledge to the hands-on experience from my placement.

But it’s not just about what I’ve learned in lectures. The social side of Harper has played a huge part in building my confidence and independence, both professionally and personally. I’ve grown so much during my time here, and I feel ready to take on whatever comes next.

In fact, I may even look into doing a Masters course in a couple of years – really dig deeper into sustainability in our food system.

Thanks Charlotte, any final words of advice?

My main advice would be to visit the campus. Come to the Open Days, come to the Offer Holder Days — and see if Harper is the right fit for you.

Everyone wants something different from their university experience, so take the leap, ask the questions that matter to you, and get a real feel for whether you'll be happy here.

Beyond that, I’d say take every opportunity that comes your way — and throw yourself into your degree. The more passion you put in, the more you’ll get out.