My future in the family rice milling business
Family Business Background
Our family business is in the agro-based industry, specifically rice milling. The business was established by my father, with our first production starting in 2008. Since then, they've experienced significant growth and expansion.
This year marks an exciting milestone as they've expanded our operations by setting up a new plant with a 500 Metric Ton capacity in additional locations. This expansion has transformed the business into a multi-generational enterprise, with the family's second generation now actively participating in its management and growth.
Future Plans
The day-to-day operations are primarily handled by my elder brother and father. My current education is directly relevant to our industry and should prove valuable as we continue to expand the operations. Upon completing my studies, I'm expected to take on a more significant role and I anticipate playing a key part in driving innovation and modernisation within our family enterprise.
Education and Career Aspirations
My MSc program covers crucial aspects such as sustainable logistics, supply chain technology, and operations management, which are all highly applicable to the rice milling industry. My long-term ambitions involve leveraging this education to modernise and expand our family business.
I aim to implement advanced supply chain strategies and technologies to optimize the rice milling processes, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. Furthermore, I aspire to explore opportunities for vertical integration, potentially expanding into rice cultivation or developing our own branded rice products.
Enterprise Engagement
The Enterprise Service at Sheffield, known as Emerge, has been invaluable in developing my entrepreneurial skills and exploring career options.
They offer insightful talks from industry leaders, practical workshops on topics like MVP development and investment strategies, and networking events that have expanded my professional network.
The one-on-one business coaching and events like the "Business Idea Bootcamp" have provided hands-on experience in pitching and developing business ideas. These experiences have sharpened my business acumen and given me fresh perspectives to apply to our family's rice milling business.
Ashwin, Emerge Community Member
Challenges and Opportunities
In the current economic climate, there are challenges such as supply chain disruptions, climate change impacts on rice production, market volatility, and intense competition. However, we also see significant opportunities.
The European rice market is expected to grow, presenting potential for expansion. There's also increasing demand for specialty and sustainably sourced rice, which we could tap into. Adopting advanced technologies and exploring value-added products are other areas the business could consider for growth.
Personal Insights
I'm most passionate about driving growth and sustainability in the family business when I return, integrating modern practices and technologies to enhance efficiency and contribute positively to our community and environment.
Business Idea Bootcamp *FULLY BOOKED*
International scholarships
We offer a generous package of financial support for international students, including undergraduate and postgraduate taught scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee.
Applications are open for existing offer holders for programmes starting in autumn 2025.