Westland offers study grants

The co-op will provide $100,000 to students over the next 10 years. Successful applicants will receive a one-off payment with the intention of removing barriers to students entering studies.

The Pike River and Canterbury Disaster Relief Fund, which funds the scholarship, was created this month to acknowledge the hardships faced by families of the Pike River Coal disaster and Canterbury earthquakes.

Westland Milk company secretary Mark Lockington says more than $10,000 a year over the next 10 years has been dedicated to the fund.

"This is an exciting opportunity for potential students to take up study plans they might not have previously considered," Lockington says.

"Being one of the West Coast's largest employers, we recognise the value of a skilled and well trained community and we urge anyone who might be thinking about tertiary training to apply."

Westland's current scholarship programme supports university-based tertiary learning, but the start-up scholarship will support all post-secondary school training including polytechnic studies and industry related programmes led by training organisations such as AgITO.

To be eligible, applicants must intend to enrol in a recognised tertiary learning programme and indicate which of the four categories they wish to apply for. The four categories are:

• Personal circumstances – e.g. financial, distance, hardship.

• Academic / vocational – special interest or ability

• Leadership / personal development – Individual abilities or skills

• Dairy industry related – on-farm training through AgITO, DairyNZ or another organisation.

Applicants must also demonstrate a link to Westland's milk supply regions of the West Coast and Canterbury's Selwyn District, which may include having lived in the specified areas.

Funds provided to successful applications will be determined on a case by case basis according to their study fee requirements.

Applications close on January 12.Visit www.westland.co.nz and follow the start-up link or call Nicky Cooper in Human Resources on 03 756 9861.