TWO final year students from the University of Cumbria have been awarded the prize for the best Forest Management plan.

Jacob Taylor and Andrew Newton have received the EGGER Forestry gong for 2020 and 2021. Both submitted a Forest Management plan as part of their degree and were given top marks from their lecturers.

In normal circumstances, Mike Yerbury, director of EGGER Forestry, would have presented prizes at their graduation, but instead Mike invited both students to visit EGGER UK’s chipboard production site in Hexham, Northumberland. 

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During their visit, they were given an insight into EGGER Forestry, an overview of EGGER UK’s operations and products, and were taken on a tour of its state of the art production site.

A presentation ceremony was conducted, to acknowledge the expertise and hard work that both students had shown in their Forest Management plan.

Forestry Journal:

Each were awarded a certificate, £250 and a bespoke chipboard plaque, to recognise their success. Tom Coates and Ben Drake, past students from the University of Cumbria, who both now work for EGGER Forestry, also attended the presentation.

Mike said: “I am delighted to have been able to celebrate the hard work and dedication of both Jacob and Andrew and award them with their prize. It was a pleasure to host them on site and explain the work EGGER Forestry does to support EGGER UK’s chipboard production.

"The University of Cumbria’s National School of Forestry is nurturing talent of the future and we are proud to support them”.

Jacob, winner of the 2020 prize, said: "I’m extremely grateful to both the University of Cumbria and EGGER for their support, which has allowed me to progress into a promising career within the forestry sector. I am honoured to receive this award and hope this will inspire others to pursue a career in forestry.”

Andrew, winner of the 2021 prize, said: “I’d like to extend my thanks to both EGGER and the University of Cumbria for the award. Receiving industry recognition from EGGER for my management plan was particularly welcome after a challenging year in unusual circumstances. The link between students and industry is vital and this award is an excellent example of that within the forest industry.”