Bester Bursary & Graduate Development Programme 2026

## About the Provider Bester Feed and Grain (Pty) Ltd, more commonly known as Bester, is a South African agricultural trading company that has been active in the industry since 1994. The company specialises in the domestic and international marketing of grain, oilseeds and animal feed ingredients, and has built a strong reputation for moving large volumes of agricultural products through reliable, efficient channels. As part of the BexGroup, Bester sits within a larger holding structure that also includes related businesses operating across the agricultural and logistics value chain. The company's commodity range is broad and reflects the diversity of South African agriculture. Bester trades in grains, fishmeal, feed additives and minerals, oilcakes, millers' by-products, oilseeds, lucerne and pecans. This breadth means that bursars who join the company are exposed to multiple commodity flows, different supplier and buyer networks, and a variety of operational considerations including storage, transport and pricing. For students considering a career in agricultural commerce, Bester is a strong place to learn how a real trading business actually works. Agricultural trading is a critical link between farmers, manufacturers and end-users such as feed mills, livestock producers and food companies. Without specialised traders, value chains become inefficient, prices are harder to determine, and quality and supply risks become difficult to manage. Bester plays this role for many of the products it handles, helping farmers find markets for their crops and ensuring that downstream customers receive reliable supplies of the inputs they need. The Bester Bursary and Graduate Development Programme is the company's way of building the next generation of professionals who will help drive this work. Rather than only funding students passively, the programme is designed as a pipeline. Bursars are exposed to the company through regular vacation work, mentored by senior managers and considered for graduate-level employment after they complete their studies. This integrated model ensures that students develop both academic and practical skills well before they enter the workforce full-time. The programme also reflects Bester's values around growth, performance and accountability. Bursars are expected to be energetic go-getters with strong analytical and communication skills, who can work effectively within a team and represent the company professionally at all times. In exchange, they receive structured support, financial assistance and a real chance to launch their careers within an established South African agribusiness.

## About the Program The Bester Bursary and Graduate Development Programme is offered for the **2026 academic year** to South African students pursuing degree qualifications across a defined set of fields that mirror the company's core operational needs: - **Agriculture** - **Business** - **Finance** - **Logistics and Supply Chain** - **Marketing** This combination is no accident. Bester needs technical specialists who understand grain, oilseeds and animal feeds, but also financial, commercial and logistical talent who can run global trading operations and navigate complex supply chains. By funding students across these disciplines, the company is building a pipeline of multidisciplinary professionals who can move into specialised roles after graduation. A distinctive feature of the programme is the integrated work-experience component. Bursars are required to complete two weeks of vacation work in **June or July** and another two weeks in **November or December** each year, for which they receive market-related payment. This gives students hands-on exposure to a real agricultural trading environment well before they finish their degree, which makes them far more employable when they graduate. Bursars also benefit from structured mentoring by a Bester senior manager. This mentorship is critical: it helps students translate textbook knowledge into practical decision-making, exposes them to the realities of the agricultural commodity sector, and helps them build networks that often shape their long-term careers. In return for the support and the work experience, recipients enter into a service contract with Bester. Specifically, after graduation, bursary recipients are required to work for Bester for the equivalent duration of the funding they received. This commitment is a fair exchange: significant financial support and structured work exposure in return for a few years of post-graduation employment, which itself sets the foundation for a strong early career. Shortlisted candidates are invited to attend an interview, conducted by the Bester Graduate Development panel. If you do not hear back within 14 days of submitting your application, you can consider your application unsuccessful and continue to apply for other opportunities. The bursary applications are currently closed at the time of writing, so it is important to monitor the company's recruitment channels for the next intake.

## Bursary Benefits The Bester Bursary and Graduate Development Programme combines financial support with structured work exposure. Specific benefits include: - **Full cover of tuition fees** for the duration of your degree, subject to maintaining academic performance and complying with the bursary agreement. - **Mandatory vacation work** of two weeks in June or July and two weeks in November or December each year, providing valuable practical experience inside a leading agricultural trading company. - **Market-related payment** for vacation work, which means you earn while you learn and build savings during your studies. - **Mentorship and guidance** from a Bester senior manager, helping you translate academic learning into practical commercial skills. - Access to a respected employer in the agricultural and logistics sector, with a long history in the industry and an established network of clients and partners. - A clear pathway into employment after graduation through the **Graduate Development Programme**, with structured roles and exposure to several functions across the business. - Recognition as a Bester bursar, which strengthens your CV when applying for future roles, postgraduate study or international opportunities. The bursary does not function as a charity; it is an investment by the company in talent that they intend to develop and retain. Successful bursars who deliver consistently strong academic and work performance can expect to graduate with both a degree and a real job offer in hand.

## Eligibility Criteria Applicants must satisfy every one of the following requirements. Failure to meet any one of them will result in disqualification. - You must be a **South African citizen**. - You must be studying towards a **Degree qualification** in one of the funded fields: Agriculture, Business, Finance, Logistics or Supply Chain, or Marketing. - You must be entering your **2nd or higher year of study**. - You must be studying at a recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa. - You must have achieved a minimum overall academic average of **65%**. - You must be interested in taking up employment at the company after graduation. - You must be an **energetic go-getter** who can work in a dynamic, results-oriented environment. - You must have **excellent communication skills** in English and be able to express ideas clearly in writing and in person. - You must be able to **understand Afrikaans**, as it is widely used in the company's day-to-day operations. - You must have **strong analytical skills** and be comfortable working with numbers, data and commercial information. - You must work well within a team and demonstrate the ability to collaborate across different functions. - Preference will be given to **EE candidates**, in line with employment equity guidelines. Taken together, these criteria describe a high-performing, commercially aware student with a clear interest in working in an agricultural trading environment after graduation.

## Required Documents Submit clear, certified copies of all the documents below. Bester will request supporting documents via an automated email after you submit your initial application form. - Certified copy of your South African ID document. - Full academic record or transcripts, on your institution's letterhead. - Motivational letter explaining why you should be awarded the bursary, what you bring to the company and your career goals. - Updated curriculum vitae (CV) with your contact details, qualifications, marks, leadership roles and any work or volunteer experience. Name each file clearly (for example: "Surname_Initials_ID.pdf") and avoid password-protected attachments. Combining multi-page documents into single PDFs makes life much easier for the recruitment team reviewing your file.

## How to Apply 1. Confirm that you meet every eligibility requirement, especially the academic average, year of study and Afrikaans language requirement. 2. Update your CV with your contact details, qualifications, marks, leadership roles and any agricultural or commercial experience. 3. Prepare a clear motivational letter explaining why you should be awarded the bursary, what you bring to the company and how you see your career developing within the agricultural sector. 4. Locate the Bester Graduate Development Programme application form online and read through every question carefully before starting. 5. Complete the online application form in full, providing accurate personal, academic and contact information. 6. Submit the form and watch your email inbox closely for an automated message requesting your supporting documents. 7. Reply to that automated email with clear, certified copies of your South African ID, full academic record on institution letterhead, motivational letter and updated CV. 8. Double-check that all your attachments are clear, correctly named and free from password protection so the recruitment team can open them easily. 9. Submit before the official **closing date** advertised by Bester for the next intake. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. 10. If shortlisted, prepare for an interview with the Bester Graduate Development panel by researching the company, the agricultural commodity sector and your own career goals in detail.

## Tips for Success The Bester Bursary is competitive, business-focused and tightly tied to commercial performance. The following tips will help your application stand out: - **Lead with academic excellence.** A 65% average is the minimum, but successful bursars usually sit well above this. Push hard in modules that relate to agriculture, finance, supply chain or marketing. - **Tailor your motivational letter.** Avoid generic statements. Mention Bester's commodities, the agricultural sector and the kind of role you would like to grow into. Show that you have done your research. - **Show commercial awareness.** Read up on grain markets, animal feed trends, fertiliser prices and key drivers of South African agriculture. Demonstrating that you understand how commodity trading works will set you apart from candidates who treat the bursary as a generic opportunity. - **Be honest about your Afrikaans ability.** You do not need to be a fluent speaker, but you must be able to understand Afrikaans in a working environment. Mention any school subjects, family environment or experience that supports this. - **Highlight teamwork and leadership.** Sports, prefectship, debating, religious or community groups are all valuable. They show that you can work with others, take responsibility and represent your community well. - **Show analytical strength.** Mention specific examples where you have worked with numbers, data or financial information. Even small examples, such as managing a school tuck shop or running budgets for a society, are useful. - **Prepare for the interview.** If shortlisted, you will face the Graduate Development panel. Research Bester thoroughly, prepare answers to common bursary interview questions and have specific examples ready to demonstrate your skills. - **Plan for the work-back commitment.** Be sure that you genuinely want to work in agricultural trading after graduation. The work-back is a serious obligation and breaking it can have legal and financial consequences. - **Ask trusted readers to review your application.** A teacher, mentor or family member can help check your motivational letter, CV and application form for clarity, spelling and tone. - **Stay alert for the next intake.** Applications are currently closed. Make a note to check Bester's recruitment channels at the start of each year and prepare your documents in advance so you can submit quickly when the bursary reopens.

## Career Prospects Bester sits at the intersection of farming, manufacturing, finance and logistics, which means bursars graduate with skills that are valuable far beyond a single job description. Career outcomes typically fall into several broad pathways. The most direct path is into the Bester Graduate Development Programme itself. Bursars enter structured roles in trading, procurement, sales, finance, supply chain, marketing or operations, depending on their qualification. Within a few years, strong performers move into specialised positions such as commodity trader, supply chain analyst, junior accountant, marketing executive or agricultural commodity specialist. With more experience, bursars can grow into senior roles such as trading desk lead, finance manager or business unit head. Agricultural graduates can specialise in crop production, animal feed formulation, sustainable farming or agribusiness consulting. Many use their Bester experience to build careers across other agricultural producers, food processors, cooperatives, exporters and commodity firms. Some return to family farms with stronger commercial and financial skills, while others move into agritech, where data, digital tools and automation are reshaping farming. Business, finance and accounting graduates have particularly broad options. The skills built in a commodity trading environment - working with margins, hedging, foreign exchange, contracts and supplier finance - are highly transferable to banking, asset management, audit firms and corporate treasury roles. Some bursars eventually pursue qualifications such as the CA(SA), CFA or CIMA to deepen their professional standing. Logistics and supply chain graduates often find their way into transport, warehousing, freight forwarding, port operations and global trade roles. With Bester operating across grains, fishmeal, oilcakes and other commodities, exposure to international trading routes provides graduates with a strong foundation for careers in shipping, logistics technology, customs brokerage and supply chain consulting. Marketing graduates gain experience marketing both consumer-facing and B2B products, including agricultural commodities and animal feeds. This dual exposure equips them for marketing roles in FMCG, agribusiness, B2B services and digital marketing agencies. Some progress into brand management, market research, growth marketing or commercial strategy roles in larger corporates. In the long term, Bester bursars build careers as commercial leaders who understand both the technical and financial sides of agriculture. Whether they remain at Bester, join other agribusinesses, move into corporate roles or start their own ventures, the combination of academic support, paid vacation work and mentorship offered by the bursary positions them well to thrive in South Africa's evolving food and trading economy.

## Frequently Asked Questions ## Who can apply for the Bester Bursary? South African citizens entering their 2nd or higher year of a Degree in Agriculture, Business, Finance, Logistics or Supply Chain, or Marketing at a recognised South African university, with at least a 65% academic average and a willingness to work for the company after graduation. ## Which fields of study are funded? Agriculture, Business, Finance, Logistics or Supply Chain, and Marketing. ## Can I apply if I am still in Matric? No. The bursary is targeted at students who are already at university and are entering their 2nd or higher year of study. ## Why is Afrikaans listed as a requirement? Bester operates in environments where Afrikaans is widely spoken, particularly within agricultural communities and operations. You do not need to be fluent, but you must be able to understand the language well enough to follow conversations and instructions. ## Is there a work-back agreement? Yes. Bursary recipients are required to work for Bester after graduation for the equivalent duration of funding received. This is set out clearly in the bursary contract. ## What is included in the vacation work component? Bursars must complete two weeks of vacation work in June or July and another two weeks in November or December. This work is paid at market-related rates and is a compulsory part of the programme. ## What documents do I need to submit? A certified ID, full academic record on the institution's letterhead, a motivational letter and an updated CV. ## How will I know if my application was successful? Bester will contact shortlisted candidates within 14 days of submission. If you do not receive feedback in this period, consider your application unsuccessful for the current cycle and look for the next opportunity. ## Is the bursary currently open? Applications are currently closed. Check the company's recruitment channels regularly for announcements about the next intake. ## Do I need previous work experience? No formal work experience is required, but any agricultural, retail, accounting or part-time experience is helpful. Highlight transferable skills such as discipline, customer service, teamwork and analytical thinking.

## Applications Closing Applications are currently closed. Check the company's recruitment channels for announcements about the next intake.