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A key priority for the Farmer Network has been to support and assist young people to enter the farming industry directly or through their own farming-related enterprise. Over the last 12 years, the Network has helped more than 200 young people with many of them going on to set up their own business.
In the next few weeks, the Farmer Network, with generous support from the National Lottery Reaching Communities fund and other partner organisations, is to work with a group of Next Gen farmers to ensure that they can overcome potential challenges, take advantage of any opportunities, and perhaps set up a viable and sustainable farming, or farm-related business.
Last weekend the group is took part in a 2-day training course on farm accounting and book-keeping, and this will be followed by a workshop on Monday 27th January 7pm at the George Hotel, Penrith. This will include a business planning session hosted by Fiona Wilson, Area Director, Business Banking, HSBC. There will also be a session on applying for farm tenancies led by the H&H Land and Estates Team.
Another workshop takes place at 7pm Monday 3rd February. This will be an on-line presentation and Q&A session with Mark Pearson, Senior Agricultural Relationship Manager, Oxbury Bank, which specialises in agricultural banking. He will cover the Oxbury New Gen package and what is needed in a business plan and cash-flow for a loan application.
Mark will be joined by two very experienced local farm accountant business consultants Rob Hitch, Dodd and Co and David Threlkeld, Armstrong Watson. They have offered to provide individual feedback for those who get a business plan together in the following 2 weeks.
Mark, Rob and David will also provide general feedback and advice to all who attend at a second online session on Wednesday 12th March commencing 7pm. A final workshop will also be offered to the group on Marketing and Promotion, date to be announced.
Farmer Network Project Manager Kate Gascoyne has managed the Next Gen project for many years. She says, โIt is so important that we give our next generation of farmers confidence through learning the skills needed to plan, create, promote and sustain a new farming-related businessโ.
Farmer Network Managing Director Adam Day continues, โWe are very grateful for the support and guidance offered by our guest presenters and advisors at these meetings. Also, to the National Lottery. Without that support we could not make these events happen. We all share a common aim, to ensure a viable future for our Next Gen farmersโ.
More places are available and can be booked now. Email or ring the FN office: admin@thefarmernetwork.co.uk or 01768 868615
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