My journey to Galbraith began when I started studying Rural Business Management at SRUC Edinburgh. It was throughout my time there that I discovered I may want to head down the route of becoming a rural surveyor.

Having grown up on a mixed beef and sheep farm in Central Scotland, we have looked at many ways to diversify our farming business and add that something different to enhance its functionality and profitability in becoming a sustainable unit. This led me to being interested in a different side of rural businesses and to explore what other opportunities there are for farming businesses.

Throughout my journey I have been an active member of my local young farmers club which has given me access to several educational talks and farm visits in and around the farming community within West Fife.

 This has been particularly beneficial as not only has it provided me with an insight into different rural businesses and farm enterprises, but it has also opened up a number of connections with people and businesses within my area which could be key throughout my career.

Keeping these factors in mind I graduated from SRUC in July 2021 where I then secured a job as a graduate surveyor at a third-party firm in the North of England. After a year and a half, I decided to relocate back home to Fife, where I obtained a graduate job at Galbraith’s Stirling Office. In October 2023 I passed my APC where I qualified as a Rural Chartered Surveyor.

I now carry out a range of valuations and sales across central Scotland and the west coast, I enjoy my job within Galbraith as no two days are the same. You get to go out and about a lot and meet a variety of different people along the way whilst seeing different areas of the countryside.

I definitely think it was a benefit having studied at SRUC and being an active part of young farmers, this comes down to the additional knowledge of different types of farming enterprises and diversifications which I now tend to witness on several farms whilst carrying out valuation or sales pitches.  

In combining Galbraith and Young Farmers, Galbraith is a great supporter of SAYFC in many ways whether this be supporting local club’s events throughout the year to being involved in the Young Farmer of The Year Competition which takes place annually in November. I have attended many events throughout the years which have been supported by Galbraith both as a Galbraith representative and again on the other side being a young farmer. Throughout the winter many of the events we sponsor are individual clubs' concerts with the summer seeing more on the farm events such as stock judging and summer shows across the counties along with young farmer calf rallies.

Personally, I think it is great to see Galbraith be involved in these events and showing support to the association of young farmers as it raises awareness of the firm and making the connection with young farmers and the farming community which in time will hopefully become future clients as they progress in their farming careers.