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Search for hands-on diversification placement leads student to Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm Shop

Posted 27 May

A student looking for a hands-on example of farm diversification for a year in industry found herself helping sell the produce of one of Britain’s best-known farms. 

Niamh Tomkinson-Kelly, from Market Drayton in Shropshire, was looking for an engaging role for her one-year industry placement – and landed a position at Diddly Squat Farm Shop in Chipping Norton.

The shop, made famous by its owners Jeremy Clarkson and Lisa Hogan, stocks a variety of products sourced from Diddly Squat Farm and has drawn thousands of viewers to the Amazon Prime documentary featuring the farm, which returned for its on Friday.  

BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management student Niamh said: “Finding a placement that suited me was a challenge because I wanted a varied workload and didn’t want to be confined to an office every day. 

“I researched several farm diversification businesses and eventually came across this fantastic opportunity with Diddly Squat! 

“Rather than following the traditional rural surveyor path, I wanted to gain hands-on experience in farm diversification and learn how crucial it is for modern farms to generate income beyond traditional agriculture.” 

Having secured her role, Niamh has been actively involved in streamlining operations and supporting the day-to-day running of the site – no mean feat given the incredible popularity of the series has made the shop a significant tourist attraction. 

She added: “My placement has been an incredible experience! It has given me valuable insight into potential career paths and has helped me develop a wide range of practical and professional skills. 

“No two days are the same, which has really helped me to develop my problem-solving, team management, and decision-making skills. 

“On office days, I focus on behind-the-scenes operations, organising fresh produce orders, scheduling staff rotas, planning training days, recruiting new team members, and streamlining internal processes. 

“On shop days, I oversee daily operations, lead our fantastic shop team, manage deliveries, and handle stock control. 

“The shop attracts huge crowds, often with queues reaching one to three hours! This has meant that my role is constantly evolving, due to the fast-paced dynamic of the business.”

While being unfazed by the demands of both her role at Diddly Squat and her degree at University, Niamh admits that – when considering Universities – she hadn’t quite settled on a plan. 

She added: “During Sixth Form, I wasn’t entirely sure what career path I wanted to take. I started looking into universities quite late and came across this course at Harper Adams.  

“I’ve always had an interest in land and property, so the course immediately stood out to me—especially because it combines that interest with a rural focus. I ultimately chose Harper for its excellent reputation and convenient location, which allows me to stay close to home and continue working.” 

She is now looking to the future – and hopes to use her placement experience to set up a similar business in her home county. 

She added: “Ultimately, my long-term goal is to start my own farm diversification business here in Shropshire! While I’m still exploring ideas, I see a huge gap in the market and would love to turn that into a reality. 

“I have loved my role at Diddly Squat and would love to pursue something similar when I graduate next year. 

“Whether that is in a farm shop environment, or similar venture, I’m passionate about being involved in modern farm diversification – supporting local agriculture and Backing British Farming.”