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Osian Richards

BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management

So, Osian - you were brought up on a dairy farm in South Wales. Did that influence your choice of University?

Yes, it did!

My agricultural background was a major influence in choosing both the course and Harper Adams. The university’s strong industry reputation, practical focus, and close-knit community made it the perfect fit.

My Rural Enterprise and Land Management (REALM) course is highly respected within the sector, and I knew it would equip me with the skills and experience needed for a successful career.

You decided to see more at one of our Open Days. What was the visit like?

I was immediately impressed by the warmth and welcome I received.

The campus facilities were also exceptional, and I felt confident that Harper Adams would provide a nurturing environment to support my academic and personal growth.

I was astonished by how green the campus was, with multiple flower beds and grass areas across the site! The connection with the agricultural industry was obvious and immediately set Harper apart from other universities that I considered. The facilities were also great, and I received a warm welcome by the staff during the open day. This set the tone for the next four years, with constant support readily available when needed.

Are there any particular stand-out experiences from your time here?

The placement year was definitely a highlight for me.

Coming from a pedigree dairy farm in South Wales, I had heard of Gwilym Richards & Co several times. Gwilym Richards himself is renowned and respected in the dairy industry. Therefore, it was an easy decision to make to take up a placement at the firm!

I learned the importance of the way you present yourself and upholding standards of work. I had several opportunities with Gwilym Richards himself to auctioneer, and I will forever be grateful as it was so valuable and shaped my future career - indeed, it introduced me to auctioneering!

My placement work consisted of compensation claims, rentals and valuations.

This allowed me to apply the theory from my course to a real-world setting and helped me secure my graduate job. With out the placement year, I doubt that I would have pursued auctioneering as a career.

It sounds like you really found your feet! What are your plans now you’ve finished your studies?

I was lucky enough to work with a company called Greenslade Taylor Hunt during my placement year.

This has resulted in a graduate job that I start this month – that is, August 2025.

I will be working in Redhill, near Bristol and in Sedgemoor market, which gives me a perfect opportunity to represent and push Welsh agriculture in one of the largest livestock markets in England.

After that, my ambitions are to become a fully qualified chartered surveyor and auctioneer, with the hope to specialise in dairy cattle in the future.

Having already found your studies useful, are you expecting to draw on them more in future?

The REALM course is highly focused on industry, and thus I have used and will be using nearly every module during my placement and graduate job role.

Being a chartered surveyor and auctioneer results in a wide variety of work, and the REALM course has equipped me with a wide range of knowledge to handle nearly every situation from management skills to taxation knowledge and more.

I am confident that every piece of the course will provide context and support for my post-graduate role.

So if there’s a student out there like you, currently weighing up their options – what would your advice be?

I would tell them that there isn't anywhere better than Harper Adams.... Unlike other universities, you are not just a number on their database. The lecturers and peers know your name, and are always ready to help, even outside the designated timeslots.

They prepare you for industry, and the placement year is definitely worth it! It's the perfect way to get your foot in the door of the industry.

And finally, what would you say about the social side of the university and settling in?

Harper Adams is a smaller university, however there are plenty of clubs to join to make friends. My advice would be to give the societies and clubs a go - there is something for everyone!

There are also societies such as Harper Cymry and Ireland where, if you’re from those countries, you could meet people from your home. This really helped me settle in.

Just join and have fun!