Career Profile: Auctioneer

As an auctioneer you would work at one of around 130 livestock markets across England and Wales. Livestock markets mainly sell cattle and sheep, although small numbers of pigs and horses can also be sold through the market.

Some markets will hold specialist sales and shows focusing on high-end animals of certain breeds to showcase the best stock available on UK farms. They may also have sales for machinery and other goods.

This role is about having a commanding presence and a clear voice and possessing deep knowledge of livestock and market trends. Your expertise will guide farmers in presenting their livestock to achieve the best possible sales outcomes. You will also spend time, on non-sales days, visiting the local farming community to advise on likely valuations for livestock and encourage farmers to choose your market. Established auctioneers are trusted members of the farming community and form strong relationships, often providing a listening ear and signposting to any relevant available support.

As an auctioneer, you’ll also work closely with other key staff members at the market or mart. These include the drovers, who handle the livestock while on the market premises, and the market administrators, who handle all the financial and legal paperwork associated with the sales. This role can involve work outside typical working hours, although your overall hours will be fairly standard.

Sales day may mean early starts and late finishes for all auction mart staff as you ensure the market is open, the facilities ready, and all the pens are prepared for livestock.

Before the auction starts, the auctioneer will supervise the drovers in the market as they ensure all livestock are unloaded, penned and registered. They will also communicate with sellers and buyers and ensure sellers and auction staff complete all pre-sales paperwork. Once the sale starts, they may sell in the rostrum, or they may be in the ring, assisting in moving livestock in or out of the sale ring. This will then be followed by sorting livestock, loading, cleaning out and after-sales paperwork at the end of the day.

Auctioneers may also be involved in preparing sales catalogues, securing appropriate judges for showing events, advertising sales in social and print media and writing sales reports.

This is a role that requires experience, having first worked in the market and gained experience with other areas of the auctioneering business and processes. However, the industry is currently experiencing a shortage of auctioneers, presenting excellent opportunities for those interested in this career path.