What it does: As a co-operative, we're all about essential farm inputs, and smart people using smart tools with the latest science in mind and our shareholders’ interests at heart.
Mission: Enabling smarter farming for a better New Zealand.
Size and presence: Ravensdown is a nationwide co-op with around 1,000 people working for the company.
Best known for Whether it’s food grown for livestock or humans, we are an integral part of the food creation process. We are the only cooperative on the planet that tests for, advises about, buys, ships, stores, spreads, measures, and maps food-creating nutrients and fertilizer in a truly integrated way.
The good bits: Look after staff, being an established company the processes are good and it's a great starting point for a career in agriculture. Good team environment.
The not-so-good bits: Cash in the hand pay.
Back in 1977 two large private companies supplied superphosphate in New Zealand. When Kempthorne Prosser announced it was going to be buying its rival, Dunedin-based Dominion fertilizers, farmers were up in arms, and the gumboot revolution began.
Already frustrated by rising input costs and falling fertilizer quality, they would now be at the mercy of a monopoly. Then as now, fertilizer is a significant cost, second only to servicing farm debt.
The presidents of the South Canterbury, Otago, and North Otago Federated Farmers went to farmers in the area to ask them to become founding members of a new cooperative. Ravensdown eventually mounted a takeover bid for KP which was completed on 16 August 1978.
We're always looking for talented people and employ a range of staff including plant operators, store workers, sales staff, and quarry workers. We also employ staff to fill support functions within the business, including finance, HR, IT, and administrative staff.
You could join our stores, manufacturing, spreading, laboratory, office, or field-based teams. With Ravensdown you can expect to grow within a dynamic, nationwide co-operative that cares for its employees.
Stay healthy |
We want you to thrive here, and that means staying happy and healthy. If you're a full-time permanent employee, we cover medical insurance for you and your family. If you’re having a difficult time or need advice, we offer confidential and professional counselling sessions, free of charge, through OCP. |
Flexibility and Family Focus |
We’ll work with you to offer flexibility in your work arrangements where we can. With the inclusion of recreation leave, there are even more options to make sure you get well-deserved breaks from work. When you or your partner have a baby, you’ll get extra paid time off to help you welcome your new baby. |
Your future |
We contribute more to your retirement: 5% instead of the usual 3% offered by most companies. It’s your choice how you split these contributions. When you join Ravensdown we take out a life insurance policy and a salary continuance insurance policy for you. This provides cover for you just in case anything goes wrong. After 5 years with Ravensdown, you’ll be entitled to an extra week of leave, every year – which means more time to relax! Beyond 5 years there are also one-off holidays to celebrate your milestones with Ravensdown. |
Training and Development |
Once you’re on board, we’ll talk to you about the training you’ll need to do your job well. There are training opportunities galore at Ravensdown, including:
|
Ravensdown reported its first carbon footprint in 2017. We have set a reduction target of 30% of 2017/18 levels by 2030, following a science-based approach. In 2019 we broadened the scope, removed sources of uncertainty from the datasets, and improved our calculation methods. The carbon footprint profile of our broader operations (scope 1, 2, and 3) is shown below. Total core (scope 1 and 2) emissions for 2019 were 14,905tCO2e. Our 2020 carbon footprint will be issued shortly.
The environment is an integral part of our business and we acknowledge the relationship between the environment and our products and activities. Our environmental commitment will be a guiding principle in our business planning and development.
To accomplish this we commit to: