A LEADING Cumbrian livestock mart has launched a search for new trainee auctioneers.

Harrison and Hetherington is seeking up to three apprentices to support their existing team serving auction centres in the north of England and southern Scotland.

And they are using David Fearon who joined the company four years ago aged 16 as trainee auctioneer, to help get the message across to potential candidates.

“This is a fantastic job," said the 20-year-old. "We all work very closely as a team and what I find most rewarding is meeting people, then selling their stock, it gives me a real sense of achievement. The more effort that you put into the job the more you will get out of it.”

Last year, Harrison and Hetherington sold more than 100,000 cattle and 600,000 sheep from its seven sites, which include Broughton and Kirkby Stephen.

Operations director David Pritchard said: “We are delighted to be able to offer opportunities for the young to recognise and develop their talent in this very exciting role.

"We have an extremely successful, tenured team and have a long tradition of developing staff and promoting from within. This is an excellent chance to develop a career with the UK’s leading Livestock marketing business.”

Trainee auctioneers will be based initially at their Borderway Centre in Carlisle. They will undergo a comprehensive training programme which will give them experience in all aspects of the auctioneer's role. To support the in-house training scheme, the trainees can also to complete the part-time livestock market operations and management course at Harper Adams University College.

The course is designed specifically for aspiring auctioneers and is a route to membership of the Livestock Auctioneers' Association and the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers of Scotland.

David joined the company straight from school aged 16. During his first year, he worked within the livestock yard at Borderway, learning all operational and droving aspects. In his second year he worked in the administration department learning aspects of dealing with people and processing records. David then progressed to be a trainee auctioneer and now he is currently selling calves and on a weekly basis store and breeding sheep along with selling machinery and other specialist sales.