The Rural Enterprise Hub

Brecks Programme Re Opens!

Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

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The Brecks Rural Development Programme has re-opened due to funds being returned to the budget. Funding up to £150,000 may be available for projects that meet the priorities listed (in the useful documents below) and deliver benefits, within the allocated area, and can be completed by October 2013. All prospective applicants are advised to complete and return a project ideas form (see Guidance notes for support) by Friday 8th June 2012. Please be aware that funding is limited and will be competitive . Please return your ideas form by email to dbrown@easton-college.ac.uk. If you have any questions please call 01603 731583 or email the same address above. The forms and guidance can be found in the useful documents at the bottom of the page.

RDPE Newsletter April 2012

Tue, 8 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

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RDPE Newsletter March 12

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Features include:- Norfolk and Suffolk hits a century! Final Funding round for Brecks Grant Availability England Leader Exchange Group 
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Christmas Greetings

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Christmas Greetings from the RDPE team
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‘Leader: Now and the Future’ – 14th/15th November 2011

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

National RDPE Event in Birmingham
The national RDPE network event took place recently in Birmingham. This link http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/activities/all-activities/leader-now-and-the-future takes you to the event page, with all of the presentations and write-ups from the day, as well as some helpful links to further information that people have requested. All of your suggestions and feedback will now be used to develop the RDPE Network’s 2012-13 Action Plan, and other questions and suggestions not aimed at the Network will be fed into Defra’s future policy development and RDPE delivery activity. Finally, please look out for a separate email and update in the Leader e-news about the development of the England Leader Exchange Group, which will be established in the New Year. If you do have any further queries, please do come back to the team by passing the query through to our shared mailbox: rdpenetwork@defra.gsi.gov.uk or by contacting me on: 020 7238 4704.

£20 Million for Farming, Forestry & Horticultural Businesses

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Defra has announced the launch of a new fund for farming and forestry businesses. Attached is a short note along with the copy/link to the website and leaflet. If you need any further information please do get in touch. A new £20 million fund to help farming, forestry and horticultural businesses to become more efficient at using resources has been launched. The scheme aims to help businesses to become more competitive and more profitable, whilst reducing the impact of farming on the environment. <P Farmers, foresters, woodland owners, agricultural contractors and horticulturalists can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to invest in green projects, new machinery and improvements to animal health and welfare so their businesses can grow in an environmentally friendly way. The Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme will fund projects that: • save energy and reduce carbon emissions; • reduce dependence on artificial fertilizers through better use of manures; • improve soil quality • improve animal health and welfare • save and recycle water • promote woodland management by processing timber more efficiently. For more information go to http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-improvement-scheme or download the leaflet
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RDPE Newsletter October 2011

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Features include: - Annual LAG Review - Staff Changes - Launch of the Waveney Valley Identity - Brewery projects in Norfolk & Suffolk
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LandSkills East 2011/2012 Autumn Winter Programme

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 12:00:00 GMT

LandSkills East has been set up to provide rural businesses with improved access to skills and training courses across the East of England region. LandSkills East is funded under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) with the aim to provide the skills that will be required by the regions’ land-based and rural business sectors in the twenty-first century.To see the photos from the event please use the following link by copying it into the address box at the top of the screen. https://picasaweb.google.com/103362856768247519516/LandSkillsEastAwards?authuser=0&feat=directlink
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The Princes Countryside Fund - New Round open (UK)

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:00:00 GMT

The Prince s Countryside Fund was established to help rural areas in the United Kingdom to become more sustainable. The focus areas for the Fund are: • projects to improve the sustainability of British farming in areas of deprivation • projects to improve the sustainability of rural communities • projects to reconnect people with the countryside. The total amount of funding available in each round is approximately £250,000. The maximum level of funding for individual projects will be £50,000. The Fund can pay for a portion or the entirety of the costs of a project and applications for capital, project and resource funding will be considered. Applications will be accepted from organisations that can demonstrate the support of the community which will benefit from the project and show evidence of consulting the community.
The Fund has reopened to applications with a deadline for receipt of applications of Friday 14 October 2011.

Barclays Launches £100 Million Energy Fund for Farmers

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Barclays Bank has created a £100 million fund designed to help farmers meet the costs of renewable energy initiatives like wind farms, solar panels, organic waste power and hydro plants. Research undertaken by the bank has revealed that agricultural businesses are now keen to benefit from government support tariffs. More than a third of farmers would like to install renewable energy projects on their land during the coming year, and hope to generate average annual returns of £25,000. Britain aims to generate 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020, compared with 7.4% reached in 2010. The Barclays survey of 300 agricultural customers indicated that four out of five farmers recognise how renewable energy can save costs and 60% see it as a source of additional income. The funding provider expects around 80-90% of projects will be solar and wind farms as they are cheapest to build and their costs are forecast to drop by up to 50% in the next three to five years as demand rises and technology improves. Barclays states that the cost of installing renewable energy projects can be recovered after around ten years. The fund's loan budget will be unlimited and it has been suggested that the first £100 million could support more than 100 projects as the average cost varies between £250,000 and £700,000.
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Rural Development Programme Co-ordinator

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Helping farms and rural businesses prepare for change. Easton College is delivering £7.5 million of funding across Norfolk and Suffolk through the Rural Development Programme for England using the Leader approach. The programme will support the development of rural business projects across the Norfolk Coast and Broads, Waveney Valley and the Brecks areas.
Rural Development Programme Co-ordinator – salary range £20,471 to £22,265 We are seeking a Programme Coordinator to play a central function in the co-ordination and delivery of the three funding programmes. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated with strong organisational and administrative skills, and have the ability to communicate with a large range of organisations / individuals. The position will be for a fixed term contract to December 2013, working 37 hours per week. Further details : HR Department, Easton College, Easton, Norwich, NR9 5DX, Closing date 1st September 2011 www.easton-college.ac.uk Easton College is a no smoking campus and an Equal Opportunity Employer, a final salary pension scheme is applicable for this position. www.ruralhub.info/lag

LandSkills Newsletter July 2011

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Features include: Growing Business Award 2011 Focus Farms are Launched across the East of England June - The Farm Safety Month Training to Help Reduce the Green House Impact from Growing Malting Barley A sample of some new courses approved over the last month
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Latest News from the Waveney Valley Rural Development Programme

Thu, 7 Jul 2011 12:00:00 GMT

It’s midway through the Waveney Valley Rural Development Programme, and there is still £750,000 of secured funds available to support new projects. Up to now, the programme has committed over £1m to projects in the Local Action Group area. A variety of projects have been supported and have had a positive impact on the area. These include farm diversification projects that have created new self catering accommodation units, micro-enterprise projects creating new products in the area and tourism projects supporting the Waveney Valley as a growing destination for tourists. There is still budget remaining for applicants looking to set up a new or enhance an existing micro enterprise, or apply for support for tourism or farm diversification projects. Applicants should read the Local Development Strategy which is available on the website to make sure the project aligns with local priorities. To qualify your project needs to be within the Waveney Valley boundary (see website* for map), must be a new or enhanced activity, and deliver benefits to the area such as creating or protecting jobs and generating additional income for the local economy. If you are planning a project, the first stage is to visit the website to find out more details about the programme. If you believe you are eligible for funding, you should download a Project Ideas Form and fill it in as soon as possible as the next deadline for full applications is 26th July 2011. Once complete, send the ideas form to rdp@easton-college.ac.uk .We will soon be in touch to let you know whether your project can go forward to the application stage. Note: The Rural Development Programme for England is funded by Defra and the EU. Funding is available between now and December 2013.
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Over £4 million granted to rural businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 12:00:00 GMT

More than 70 businesses have received over £4 million through Local Action Groups in Norfolk and Suffolk. Businesses that have benefited from the funding range from farmers to food producers and manufacturers to tourism providers. The fund started in 2009 and focuses on supporting three areas, the Norfolk Coast and Broads, The Brecks and the Waveney Valley. £2.3 million of funding is secure and still available for rural businesses in the three areas. High levels of investment have taken place in water efficiency projects, farm modernisation and adding value initiatives. The programmes are now looking for farmers wanting to diversify out of agriculture or those wishing to start up or develop a micro-enterprise, tourism projects that support local priorities are also required to meet local development needs. Last year’s Norfolk Show saw over £1 million of new projects come forward for funding. Farmers and rural businesses interested in applying for funding can visit the Easton College rural development programme team at stand 231 to discuss their project ideas. Projects that have already received funding will also be showcased and visitors will have the opportunity to talk to grant recipients and see firsthand what a difference grant funding has made.
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JUNE: The Farm Safety Month

Tue, 17 May 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Five FREE interactive ‘Safety Workshops’ • 7th June, Easton College, Norfolk 9.00 am and 1.00 pm start • 9th June, Writtle College, Essex, 9.00 am and 1.00 pm start • 21st June, Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire, 9.00 am and 1.00 pm start • 23rd June, Easton Farm Park, Suffolk, 9.00 am and 1.00 pm start • 24th June, College of West Anglia (Milton), Cambridgeshire, 9.00 am and 1.00 pm start 
All farmers in the East of England are invited to attend a half day working which will help them to reduce the risk of working in farming. Each workshops has been specifically designed around high risk areas of their industry. Sessions include- • Working with Machinery • People on the Farm • Livestock • Working at Heights • Understanding Risk Assessments These events are open to all farm staff, managers, contractors, agricultural students, young farmers and their families. To book on one of these workshops please call Bridgette Hall on 01603 748844 (ext 4) or email Landskills@easton.ac.uk.

Job Vacancy RDP Facilitator – The Brecks

Mon, 16 May 2011 12:00:00 GMT

(VAF 64) £25,523 - £28,430 The Rural Enterprise Hub of Easton College is delivering £10.3 million of Rural Development Programme for England Funding using the Leader approach. The programme will support the development of rural business projects across the Norfolk Coast and Broads, Waveney Valley and the Brecks areas. We are seeking a Facilitator to deliver The Brecks area programme. A key role for the Facilitator will be to work with project proposers in developing their ideas for RDP funding and supporting beneficiaries in successful delivery. The Facilitator will also support the Local Action Group in delivery of its Local Development Strategy and facilitate the preparation of potential delivery post 2013. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the local area / economy with the ability to work with a large range of organisations / individuals. This post will be based at Easton College with scope for relocation into the Brecks area. The position will be for a fixed term contract to December 2013, working 37 hours per week. Further details : HR Adviser, Easton College, Easton, Norwich, NR9 5DX, Closing date 9th June 2011 at 16:00 hours
www.easton-college.ac.uk Recruitment Line: (01603) 731269, Email recruitment@easton.ac.uk Easton College is a no smoking campus and an Equal Opportunity Employer, a final salary pension scheme is applicable for this position. www.ruralenterprisehub.info/lag The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts will be subject to Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks.

Funding available to promote quality produce

Sun, 15 May 2011 12:00:00 GMT

The sustainable management of floodplains, salt marshes and fresh water marshes is very important in the Norfolk Coast and Broads as it can help prevent widespread problems from flooding offering protection to inland lying businesses and community. The responsible management of marshes and flood plains also supports essential habitat for birds and invertebrates. Livestock grazing is an essential part of the management process, but of course, in order to afford animals to graze, there needs to be a market to sustain livestock production. The Rural Development Programme operating in the Norfolk Coast and Broads area has included in their funding strategy livestock grazing of flood plains and marshes. While routine maintenance and management of the land and cattle cannot be funded, grants are available for promotion and other activities that support grazing schemes through stimulating a market for the produce. So if you are a livestock producer and grazier, there is an opportunity for you to open up new markets for quality products from animals that have grazed on rich pastures in the local countryside. To qualify your project needs to be within the Norfolk Coast and Broads boundary (see website for map), must be a new or enhanced activity, and deliver benefits to the area. If you are planning a project, the first stage is to visit the website to find out more details about the programme. If you believe you are eligible for funding, you should download a Project Ideas Form and fill it in. This form captures an outline of what you want to do, why you want to do it, how much it will cost and how much funding you are looking for. Once complete, send the form to rdp@easton-college.ac.uk .We will soon be in touch to let you know what the next stage for you and your project will be.
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Training for Rural Enterprises

Thu, 7 Apr 2011 12:00:00 GMT

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Doors Open for Rural Micro Enterprises The LandSkills East training programme which is funded through the Rural Development Programme for England has focused its training over its first two years at farming and land based businesses. Through a review of its priorities the programme is pleased to announce the inclusion of micro enterprises as eligible for training and a ring fencing of approximately £300,000 of grant funding for these rural businesses. The funding is available to cover up to 75% of the costs of courses and training which will improve the economic performance of micro enterprises. All small rural businesses (with a staff of less than 10 full time equivalent people and a turnover or net worth of below €2 million) located in a rural part of the East of England are now eligible to benefit from this training support. Accessing the training All LandSkills East training is run through dedicated delivery partners. Each of whom develop courses which must be approved by LandSkills East before the course can be run. These courses can be found on this website. If you would like to attend a course that has been developed by a delivery partner contact the partner directly and book a place. Delivery Partners are constantly looking at the future and are continually developing new courses to help you and your business across the whole of the East of England. Every business is unique which places different demands on the staff and people who run it. We appreciate this and the Landskills East programme is flexible to enable every business to design its own training programme. This means that courses can be tailored to your needs and delivered on your business premises. If you have identified a training need but are unable to find a suitable course on this website, please contact one of the delivery partners or the LandSkills East team who will work with you to develop a course around your needs. Which Businesses are Eligible Small rural businesses (with a staff of less than 10 full time equivalent people and a turnover or net worth of below €2 million) located in a rural part of the East of England which fit one of the following business descriptions are now eligible to benefit from this training support. • Public house. • Food retail (with a regional food focus) . • Specialty food businesses (with a regional focus) . • Adding value businesses which focus on farm produce (non food) . • Garages. • Post offices. • Tradesmen (builders, plumbers, electricians) who focus on servicing farming and other rural businesses. • Vets. • Conservation and land managers organisations. • Small scale tourism attractions. • Green technology companies. The focus of our training courses will be on rural enterprises developing skills for managers and employers. You may be interested in improving your technical skills or develop your business performance. Training we have run through the programme has included courses on customer care, technical skills to allow businesses to develop new products, management training and coaching. Funding has been made available for group courses, mini conferences and bespoke training designed for a specific business need. Training can be at vocational or managerial level, depending on your individual needs. If you are interested in the opportunities available for Rural Micro Enterprise training through LandSkills East partners, please look at the courses available for each Skills Group. The training courses take place at different locations across the Eastern region. All courses are part funded through LandSkills East, the remaining costs may be covered by employers, other organisations, or by the trainee themselves. Any questions about the cost of training courses should be directed to the training organisation. How to apply. To apply for a course please contact the training organisation of the particular course you are interested in – this information is on the Training Providers page. If you need some advice and assistance in choosing the right course for you, please contact us at LandSkills East and we shall endeavour to find the right training course to meet your needs.

Government Spending Review Reduces Local Action Group Budgets

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT

The impact of the government spending review has finally reached the Leader programme, bringing a 20% reduction to the budget available to Local Action Groups for 11/12. This cut has been applied by Defra, through regional development agencies across all UK Leader funded programmes. Defra has announced their commitment to funding the remainder of the RDPE period up until the end 2013.
Impact for Local Action Groups: As a result of the 20% reduction, the current budget position in 11/12 for Brecks and the Waveney Valley is a limited amount of funds remain available in Axis 1 to support competitiveness in agriculture and forestry. For projects falling under Axis 3, supporting the rural economy, and in the Norfolk Coast and Broads, the budget is fully committed and the programme will be temporarily suspended to new applicants. Future Applications: Competition for funds will be high so applicants must ensure their projects fully meet LAG priorities and will deliver good value for public money. Where funding is available for 11/12, projects will go through the usual appraisal and approval process. The budget for financial year 12/13 is yet to be confirmed, but is expected that the programme will remain open until the end of December 2013. As soon as budgets are confirmed for 12/13, deadlines for submission will be put in place and communicated to all potential applicants. However, through ongoing discussions with EEDA and Defra we are exploring options to improve on this current position. Any further updates will be posted on our website, so please keep checking regularly.

Princes Trust Enterprise Programme Open for Applications

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT

The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme, entitled Kanabus Fund, is a fund for young people interested in starting a farming related business.
Jason Kanabus was a young farmer from Sussex who cared deeply about the countryside and the country way of life. When Jason was told he was terminally ill with cancer, he decided his legacy should benefit those in communities similar to his own. The Jason Kanabus Fund helps give young people interested in farming two routes into the industry. You could apply for money and support through: - Development Awards - The Business Programme Development Awards: Interested in farming but need skills or training? - Can't afford training or course fees? - Need to buy equipment or tools? - Would a work placement on a farm help you move forward? If you are aged 14-25 you could receive money and support to help you get into farming-related education, training or work. A Prince's Trust Development Award could give you: - A cash award of up to £2,500 for tools or equipment leading to work in the farming industry - Relevant course fees - Money towards the costs of a work placement on a farm The Business Programme Do you have the skills and experience to run your own farming-related business but need support to make it happen? - Be financially independent - Set your own goals - Be your own boss If you're aged 18-30, unemployed or under-employed and have a business idea for the farming industry, you could receive money and support to start your business. The Business Programme at The Prince's Trust could give you: - A low interest loan of up to £5,000 - A grant of up to £2,000 - Ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor A test marketing grant - Business support and specialist advice The Princes Trust website has more information about the grants available in your area.

Regional Growth Fund: Round 2, Expressions of Interest

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT

The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership is preparing to offer endorsement of applications to round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a new £1.4bn 3 year Fund that will operate across England to stimulate private sector led sustainable economic growth and employment. We are keen that potential applicants contact us as soon as possible about their idea so that we can be ready to consider giving appropriate support.
Current resources will not enable us to provide bid writing support though we envisage that, through our local authority partners, some feedback on early drafts may be possible. The criteria that we will follow to determine whether New Anglia LEP endorsement is appropriate will be: 1. Does the bid fit the key criteria of the RGF? These are: �� To encourage private sector enterprise by providing support for projects with significant potential for economic growth and create additional sustainable private sector employment; and �� To support in particular those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to sustainable private sector led growth and prosperity (see link below for data sources) (Further information about the fund can be found at: http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/economic-development/regional-growth-fund) 2. If so, how does the project fit with New Anglia priorities as set out in the proposal document? This can be found on the website at: http://www.newanglia.co.uk/Downloads/Norfolk-Suffolk-LEP.pdf Currently there is no additional information about the two stage process that will be used for future rounds of the RGF, although a call for applications is anticipated on or around 12 April. Officials from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) have advised that the outcome of the first round should be known 50 working days after the first round closing date, which should mean 1 April 2011. Following analysis of what is successful from round one we hope to be able to provide guidance on what is likely to be favoured in future rounds. As soon as further information is available we will share it with you. If you are planning to submit an application to the RGF our single point of contact is via the Norfolk and Suffolk team at the East of England Development Agency. Please send your brief outline of project ideas, explaining how they fit with the criteria above to: markallison@eeda.org.uk. We would also like to hear from you if your project does not meet the bid threshold (£1million) as we may be able to assemble a project package if there are others that could be linked together. Please note that information provided to us as part of this process will not be shared with anyone else without your consent.

World's first Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) launched to reduce emissions

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT

On 10 March 2011, the Government announced the details of the first plase of the Renewable Heat Incentive policy to revolutionise the way heat is generated and used in buildings and homes. This is the first financial support scheme for renewable heat of its kind in the world. The £860m government scheme expected to increase green capital investment by £4.5 billion up to 2020, stimulating a new market in renewable heat. A full system of RHI payments will be available to households from October 2012.
Key aspects are: • Supported technologies include biomass, ground source and water source heat pumps, solar thermal and biomethane. • Tariffs have been published online. For the full table click on the link below. Under the RHI, organisations using renewable heat will receive quarterly payments for 20 years from the date they enter the scheme. • In addition to support for new installations, organisations which installed eligible renewable heat equipment since 15th July 2009 will also qualify for support under the RHI. The scheme will be introduced in two phases. • In the first phase, long-term tariff support will be targeted in the non-domestic sectors, at the big heat users - the industrial, business and public sector – which contribute 38% of the UK’s carbon emissions. Under this phase there will also be some support for households through the Renewable Heat Premium Payment. • The second phase of the RHI scheme will see households moved to long-term tariff support similar to that ffered to the non-domestic sector in the first phase. This transition will be timed to align with the Green Deal which is intended to be introduced in October 2012. The Land-Based Renewables Team at DECC are looking to seek Parliamentary approval of the regulations in July 2011 and will introduce the tariff scheme thereafter. Biomass installations of 1 MWth capacity and above will be required to report quarterly on the sustainability of their biomass feedstock for combustion and where they are used to produce biogas. This information will include the amount of biomass used, its type and form, country of origin and whether an environmental accreditation has been met. Bioliquids are not included in the first phase, but we will consider them further for introduction in 2012. Further information on the scheme can be found in the RHI policy document – Chapter 5, p43-50, covers biomass - which is available from the link below:

Experienced & Connected Team offers free advice on raising finance

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT

A highly credible team ranging from successful entrepreneurs to investors and sector specialists has helped businesses in the East of England raise over £1m at no cost to the companies.
The individuals concerned are part of a team of entrepreneurs, investors, former bankers, pitching advisors and sector specialists helping companies that register for the ‘Understanding Finance for Business’ programme which is funded by EEDA and delivered by St John’s Innovation Centre, Cambridge. The programme offers a combination of workshops, one to one mentoring and pitching (as part of a comprehensive ‘Equity Package’) – all free of charge. It is open to companies in all sectors. Workshops are scheduled up to the end of June 2011 but, whilst it is hoped that the programme will continue after that, there is no guarantee, so it is vital that companies sign up now to ensure they benefit. So far, approximately 1,000 companies have attended one or more of the Understanding Finance for Business workshops and the team has mentored companies that have raised a total well in excess of £1m. The next opportunities to pitch to business angels are in February and March but as pitching companies are selected by the mentors, they need to be in the system as soon as possible. David Gill, Managing Director of St John’s Innovation Centre said: “Most businesses need funding of some kind or another, particularly in their early years, and a wrong decision can be costly. Understanding Finance for Business offers companies free access to a wealth of experience from people who have ‘been there and done it’. The time, support and advice we offer could cost hundreds of pounds in consultancy fees but it’s offered free because the programme is publicly funded. So this is really a call to action for businesses in the region to sign up now and make the most of the team’s support while it’s guaranteed. Whether it’s a bank loan, a grant or a more substantial equity investment, we draw on decades of experience. We de-mystify the options, provide hands-on support to help companies make themselves attractive to potential funders and, in some instances secure the opportunity for them to pitch to business angels.” A rolling programme of workshops is scheduled across the region. The first half-day workshop - "Raising Finance for Business" - gives an overview of different finance options. Follow on workshops focus on specific types of finance (grant, bank, equity). Investment ready businesses are given the opportunity to pitch to business angels. They also benefit from a one-to-one session with a pitching specialist who will help them hone their pitch and a dry-run pitch before they do it for real. To find out more go to www.stjohns.co.uk/finance, or visit www.finance4businessblog.co.uk/.

LandSkills East Newletter February

Tue, 8 Feb 2011 12:00:00 GMT

This newsletter contains an interview with Henry Cator. Information on National Apprenticeship Week and uptodate list of courses across the region
LandSkills East Newsletter February 2011

First e-newsletter for the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership

Mon, 7 Feb 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Last year the coalition government announced it will abolish regional development agencies including The East of England Development Agency, which is responsible for driving forward the economic growth of the region. In their place will be Local Enterprise Partnerships, with priorities shaped by local businesses and organisations, to help drive forward the local economy. The Local Enterprise Partnership for Norfolk and Suffolk is called New Anglia; it is business led with support from the public sector

RDPE Newsletter - January 2011

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:00:00 GMT

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RDPE Newsletter - December 2010

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:00:00 GMT

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LandSkills East Newsletter December 2010

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 12:00:00 GMT

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RDPE Newsletter - November 2010

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:00:00 GMT

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Centre for Contemporary Agriculture

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 12:00:00 GMT

CCA presents two cutting edge training programmes.
CCA presents two cutting edge training programmes for Future Managers and Leadership & Innovation. - Develop your career - Take responsibility - Plan resource use - Manage change - World food situation and East Anglian science - Future for the sector - Make an impact - Take the industry forward To find out more about either of the two courses, contact Richard Rampton directly on 01603 748 844 (Ext 2). Richard will provide full details of the courses contents, arrangements and enrolment forms; he will also be able to answer any specific questions about the training courses that you may have. GENERAL INFORMATION: Both courses are residential and all accommodation and food is included in the price of the training, which is valued at over £2,000. Support from LandSkills East enables us to reduce the charge to only £700. Candidates need to be able to commit to the total time of the training.

LandSkills East Newsletter November 2010

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 12:00:00 GMT

LandSkills East Newsletter November 2010
LandSkills East Newsletter

LandSkills East Newsletter October 2010

Thu, 7 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Andrew Charlton talks about his diverse career and life in farming. Also this month a review on a recent paper compiled by the East of England Farming and Food Group and new courses approved by LandSkills.
LandSkills East Newsletter

The Skills Challenge for the East of England's Food & Farming Sector to 2020

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Skills Challenge for the East of England
The Skills Challenge for the East of England’s Food & Farming Sector to 2020 This paper has been prepared by the East of England Sustainable Farming and Food Group, an independent group chaired by Marie Francis OBE, which speaks on behalf of the region’s agri-food sector. It is based on an initial briefing paper (the content of which is included in the discussion below), and input received from over 100 industry representatives and businesses which attended a series of three breakfast events in June 2010 to debate the challenges faced by the industry in meeting its skills needs in the next decade. The East of England is a growing region with a dynamic and diverse range of industries. It is one of only three regions in the UK which are net contributors to the exchequer, as well as having some of the highest rates of R&D spending and knowledge intensive businesses in Europe. The region’s agri-food sector contains the largest concentration of food related R&D in Europe and the commercial sector itself is the most productive in the UK, with the region’s farms representing over ¼ of England’s arable, poultry and horticulture sector and nearly 30% of its pigs . East of England agriculture generates 25% of total income from the sector in England and has been growing its share of major enterprises such as pigs and poultry. The agri-food sector has therefore been recognized as a sector with a major role to play in the future of the region in the Blueprint for Growth which has recently been published by the Space for Ideas Business Leaders group at http://www.eastofengland.uk.com/blueprint . Background. The Food and Farming sector is the largest manufacturing sector in the country. The total food chain has a turnover of £171bn (2008), creates GVA of £83bn and employs 3.8million people (Defra 2009). The sector also manages 80% of the UK’s land area, has positive and negative impacts on biodiversity and the countryside, is a major user of resources and is facing challenges in responding to climate change. The industry has coped comparatively well with the recession with turnover and GVA both increasing since 2007. The sector has also been a leader in export growth, with recent figures showing food and drink exports growing for the fifth consecutive year by 4.4% in 2009 to £9.65bn, at a time when other manufacturing sectors saw exports fall by 11.8% . In the East of England the agri-food sector is a major employer with a labour force in excess of 375,000 people, of whom 122,000 are employed in agriculture, food processing and ancillary businesses , 115,000 in food retail and 139,000 in the catering sector (DEFRA 2009). The food chain thus represents 1 in 7 jobs in the region’s economy, and therefore it is essential that any focus on skills and knowledge led growth must include a strong focus on addressing the needs of the sector. The Skills Challenge - published reports. In 2009 the region launched an ambitious growth led agenda for the Food and Farming sector: 2020 Vision for the East of England Food and Farming sector which set out the need to increase production whilst simultaneously tackling the challenges of sustainability. The Vision outlines the need for increased public sector investment in skills and R&D to compliment industry investment. All the consultations which led to the Vision, and many other recent papers and events, have however highlighted a serious problem in relation to skills. The sector has struggled to attract enough good new people and is not seen as a career of choice by many people, and levels of progression and formal qualifications are low by comparison with many other sectors. The need for career and skills progression is thus a strong theme within the Sector Skills Agreement developed by LANTRA . There is also a need for skilled technologists and those with higher level management skills able to run increasingly large and complex business operations. In part the skills gap in the sector has been met by migrants who have become an increasingly important component of the food and farming sector’s workforce, with many now progressing into management roles and becoming part of the long term workforce. However, most employers have concerns about how dependent they have become on this source of new recruits, and have expressed worries about where their future workforce will come from. The issues identified regionally are aligned with national research , which has highlighted a need to increase UK food production to deliver food security by increasing the focus on research and skills. But, this challenge occurs at the end of a 20 year period in which agricultural student numbers declined until 2005 , with only small improvements being seen in the last few years, and then only in part time student numbers. Agricultural and food related research has also been cut and many former research facilities have closed. To address the challenges outlined above in relation to production and sustainability many reports have highlighted the need to increase recruitment to the sector (LANTRA 2006), improve technology transferF F, develop the science base and increase skill levelsF F. The HEFCE review of Land Based Studies in 2007 (the Gill review) recommended that there was a need for more collaboration between providers to ensure research was communicated into practice. This focus on applied research and technology transfer linked to academic provision is also reflected in the BBSRC consultation on future directions in research relating to food securityF F. The key challenge is to develop people who can drive research led innovation in both technical and managerial disciplines and demonstrate real results in commercial businesses . This requires greater collaboration between research, whether in university departments or research centres, and teaching provision by Colleges and the private sector. New Industries New Jobs (DIUS 2009) predicts that in developed countries demand for unskilled workers will fall 16% but increase 19% for skilled workers over the period 2001-30 . The Labour Force Survey (2008) has shown that compared to other sectors the agricultural workforce in England is: • older, with 24% of employees over the age of 55 compared to 16% in all sectors of the economy; • has more employees, 58%, with qualifications at level 2 or below compared to 47% for all sectors; • regarded as taking a longer time to become competent within, with over 50% of employees thinking that it took 2 years or more to ‘learn to do the job well’ compared to 29% in all sectors. Recent official reports suggest that agricultural and food processing employment will continue on a downward trajectory, however most of these were produced using data from before the food price shocks in 2007 and 2008 and the subsequent increase in agricultural output. Recent data suggests that agricultural employment in the East of England grew between 2007 and 2008 as producers responded to the demand for more production, increasing by over 1,000 people to 48,500 (+2.3%) Improve have published a labour market profile for the food processing sector 2009/10 which highlights that the sector employs 37,000 staff in the region, 15% of the total regional employment in manufacturing, and is seeing an increase in demand for higher level skills. Whilst total employment in the sector is projected to decrease slowly due to mechanisation it will need to recruit 8,000 staff in the next decade within the region. At a time of public sector funding constraint there is inevitably pressure on public sector support for skills provision. Many current national reports place the agri-food sector low on the list of priority sectors, with a recent UKCES report putting food and drink processing 20th and 22nd and agriculture 25th out of 27 sectors. Whilst the report’s conclusions have been challenged by the industry in the light of the government’s Food 2030 report and recent trends this illustrates the challenge which the industry faces. The sector must make a clear case for funding the development of agricultural and food skills and link this to the benefit that these industries can bring to the country. Feedback from the industry. The following sections of the paper set out the key arguments and issues which were raised by participants at the three business breakfasts held in June 2010, in five major areas: • The future demand for people and skills within the agri-food sector; • The challenges in recruiting the future workforce; ; • The types of skills where demand will increase; ; • How to link skills provision more closely to R&D and knowledge led growth; ; • Projecting the sector’s skills needs effectively. ; In each area a description of the issue is followed by industry views on the areas in which action needs to be taken to ensure the sector can secure the workforce and skills it needs for the future. The future demand for people and skills within the agri-food sector. Whilst direct agricultural employment had been declining for many years, 2008 saw the first recent significant rise (+3%) in employment due to increased production. Whilst there remains scope for some further mechanization on some farms, many larger (in particular) arable businesses, feel that the future workforce will not fall as we are approaching the limit of machinery size which can be used. The total food chain has seen increased demand for staff which has offset the falls on farms and this overall growth is set to continue as the demand for value added goods and catering services grows. The industry has an ageing workforce and this coupled to static or increasing demand for skills presents a big challenge in recruiting enough new entrants. Whilst some Colleges are seeing the number of people entering the sector rise (e.g. Easton in Norfolk), the picture across the country is not as robust and overall we are failing to find enough new recruits, with research suggesting agriculture alone needs 60,000 new recruits in the next 10 years, a figure which on current trends will not be met, with 67% of employers reporting a skill gap. Many graduates do not have the skills needed and are not fit for purpose with employers struggling to get experts in many areas e.g. experienced technologists, because whilst there is no shortage of graduates they have no experience. The skills gap is increasing because a BSc is no longer enough for the challenges in the industry, and there is a growing need for post-graduate qualifications as well as a need for graduates to do more internships so they have the skills really needed by employers. Employers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure the staff needed for growth within the UK e.g.: • A pig production business advert for a technician attracted 28 applicants of whom 8 were interviewed, but only two were suitable, both of whom were working overseas; • The same issues occur in science e.g. when trying to recruit a senior dairy scientist only one good applicant was received on the 2nd attempt and this was from an Ethiopian working in Finland; • In horticulture a business which has recently recruited 4 new management staff reported that they were all migrants from Bulgaria, all four were graduates and very committed to the business. It is recognized that there will be demand for skills at all levels, but businesses are anticipating a larger increase in the demand for higher level and technical skills in subjects as diverse as electronics, mechanization, quality control, ICT and production science as the industry becomes more sophisticated. Looking forward businesses highlighted particular needs in relation to: • Finding young highly skilled operators for large, complex and computerized machinery; • Managers with a balance of technical and management skills to promote growth and efficiency; • Finding enough scientists and professionals who wish to specialize in the sector e.g. engineers, bankers, accountants and solicitors; • Finding new leaders and entrepreneurs to drive the sector forward and create new products and enterprises, as well as supporting the growth needs of existing entrepreneurs. The challenges in recruiting the future workforce. The sector has a big challenge to find enough new recruits and cannot tackle this without appealing to both young new entrants and career changers. However, the fundamental problem which may restrict the industry’s success in doing this is that the sector’s image as a career is poor. Most of the public hear a message of decline from the industry and this puts off not only them, but also the people they influence such as children or those they are influenced by. Whilst the sector has long been associated with some positive images e.g. working in close proximity to nature, it is also widely believed to still involve too much hard work, to be incestuous with the top roles only going to those who families are already in the sector, and as having dirty conditions and poor rewards. There is a need to correct this dated image by explaining the way in which job roles are changing with more emphasis on technology and management, and the fact that recent surveys have shown that salaries are now much more competitive e.g. average farm managers now earn £47,000. The key issues which need to be addressed are in four areas: • Attracting young people - who have an increasingly wide range of careers available to them. To compete the sector must be clear on the career potential it offers, dispel the myth that it is a closed shop and focus on the 14-16 old age group as they make career choices. The sector needs to use routes such as partnerships with schools or Young Farmers to reach out into non-traditional markets and develop innovative ways into the sector for the young. A full range of routes is required including the 14-19 diploma (funding permitting) as well as both academic and vocational routes. • Attracting career changers - who in many industries are an increasing source of new recruits. To do this the industry has to encourage people in by clearly explaining the benefits of the sector and selling the sector as a career of choice, helping them to make the transition and by clearly explaining how their transferable skills are valuable within the sector. Some businesses are already doing this and finding it an effective way to obtain skills in areas such as supply chain management or mechanization. Flexible post-graduate provision is also vital to provide the routes for professionals to retrain within the sector. • Selling a positive message to key influencers - most people, whether young or old are influenced heavily by those around them, and in relation to careers this includes family, friends, colleagues and services such as the careers service and teachers. It is critical that these people also understand the benefits of working within the industry and are positive about it. • Promoting attractive conditions - the sector has to ensure that its conditions of employment are competitive, and then promote the rewards which the sector offers to potential new entrants. By investing in new technology the value added per employee can be increased and this can lead to more attractive conditions, both physically and financially, being provided. In addition to new staff, the sector needs to find ways to attract new entrepreneurs to start new businesses, develop new products and services or to grow existing businesses. One challenge is to help unlock the potential of many successors who are already within family or other businesses, but who are currently being blocked from taking on management responsibility at a young age. The types of skills where demand will increase. Production technology is moving forward rapidly and future staff will need a combination of analytical, management and technical skills e.g. • Production roles - tractor drivers will continue to need traditional skills but also need to understand why new approaches to production are needed and how they can save resources or increase output e.g. the benefits of reduced tillage depth on costs or resource use on carbon emissions. ‘Farm workers’ now typically drive £100,000 tractors or £¼m combines, and there is a real challenge in getting 17 year olds up to the level of competence needed to drive these safely and effectively. • Continuous improvement - is needed in the food processing sector, where the global market is requiring businesses to do more with less every day, demanding staff who can devise and apply incremental improvements to enable manufacturers to remain competitive. • Technology - many of the key challenges businesses face need new technology e.g. water resources, where we must find smart solutions to the pressures we face, with similar challenges in sustainable approaches to waste or energy. ICT skills are growing in importance, with many new job roles being created in systems monitoring, recording and analysis where excellent computer skills are needed. The need for management and leadership skills is also increasing across the sector as supply chains, customer demands and regulation become more demanding, but also because average business size and complexity is increasing. Particular needs are found in: • Empowerment - increasingly all staff need to adopt a managerial outlook in which they take responsibility for their area of the business so that everyone is committed to business success. • Collaboration - team work and collaborative skills are needed across the sector, as average business size increases and businesses work jointly on meeting customer needs. Lantra’s recent national skills survey showed that 39% of employers wanted team work skills at L3 and above. • Marketing - where the sector needs to develop more management expertise in marketing, as well as the identification and development of new markets or crops. It is also important to focus on adding value and developing more people who have the skills portfolios to work along the whole supply chain. Marketing also includes presenting a positive image of the sector and media training programmes. • Entrepreneurship and leadership - to build on existing entrepreneurship courses so that the sector can develop more new start ups, as well as finding the next generation of leaders to grow existing businesses. These people need skills in presentation, public speaking, dress and behaviour codes as well as leadership and management. In addition to the core roles in agri-food production, there is a big skills gap in relation to scientists in plant genetics and plant breeding as well as other scientific disciplines. Skills are being lost abroad because of the anti-GM approach of Europe and many of the best young scientists are going where these skills can be used. Similarly there is a big problem in recruiting professionals (e.g. bankers, solicitors and accountants) who want to specialise in the agri-food sector. . How to link skills provision more closely to R&D and knowledge growth. R&D led solutions are critical to the sector’s future, and there is a need to invest in more effective knowledge transfer, because whilst there are lots of initiatives, there is a lack of focus and co-ordination which reduces effectiveness. The most important focus must be on communicating new knowledge to existing staff in commercial businesses who offer the fastest route to producing commercial returns. The major problem with knowledge transfer is that R&D has recently been assessed and valued mainly by publication in peer reviewed journals which are never read by the industry. There is a need to find a way to give more weight and credit to publication in industry relevant publications and for work with industry. Too little funding is being directed at translational research and thus there are very few scientists working on applied projects. This gap must be bridged so that we move from science for scientists to science for business, including ensuring R&D centres have the skills base to communicate effectively. Interestingly given the focus on growth of the agri-food sector in the East of England, the Financial Times is keen to build on its recent regional feature to understand more about how the East of England food sector can help lead the economy out of recession, and this presents a good opportunity to demonstrate how agri-food R&D can help to deliver growth to a wider audience. The key message must be that without R&D the sector’s growth cannot be sustained in a resource constrained age. To address the issues with links between skills and R&D action is needed on: • Developing programmes and facilities for technology translation - some progress is being made e.g. NIAB’s enhanced demonstration farm facility www.innovationfarm.co.uk, but more needs to be done to spread this approach. There is also a need to improve the skills of scientists in knowledge transfer or to employ specialists to do this. Businesses can also teach researchers a great deal about the practical impacts of new technology and a two way dialogue would thus strengthen the science. • Ensuring new technologies are commercialised first in the region - as a leading region in agri-food research greater effort should be focused on identifying businesses which can apply new research and use the skills this creates to increase competitiveness. • Linking R&D and entrepreneurship programmes - the InCrops programme has supported over 100 businesses in the last year but only 2 are run by under 25s, so we need to find a way to increase entrepreneurship amongst the younger members of the industry. • Developing specific CPD courses which expose business managers to the latest R&D - courses focused on knowledge transfer are needed so that businesses can access the superb research in places like JIC, IFR, NIAB and Rothamsted, because most businesses in the region are not connected to this work and it essential a way is found to bridge this gap. • Utilising the desire of commercial businesses to reach their market - major companies are keen to commercialise R&D as fast as possible and this provides a useful platform to support collaborative programmes with research centres and education to communicate these new technologies to businesses and students. Projecting the sector’s skills needs effectively. The agri-food sector can deliver benefits to the UK in many areas including food and energy security, renewable material production, health (diet and recreation), bio-diversity and climate change. The sector’s contribution needs to be recognised using more than just GVA measures to include its impact on land use, diet, health, bio-diversity and carbon emissions. However, current economic analysis does not take this more holistic approach, or recognize the role of skills in meeting these multiple objectives. The industry is keen to increase CPD as a key route to improving the sector’s performance, but this demands modularised provision which is more flexible and funded in line with full time provision. A number of key issues relate to the future of skills provision within the sector including: • Higher Education funding - the financial pressures faced both by providers and students are growing and this has changed the nature of courses by reducing the time given to practical work and work experience. It is important that having seen an increase in student demand that funding is more flexible to accommodate the growth in demand, and that courses are more applied to meet needs. • Further Education (FE) funding - there has been a big increase in funding in the last 10 years for FE, but the industry struggled to find new entrants and has not benefitted as much as other sectors. The 14-19 diplomas which helped to attract new entrants are due to be cut by 2013, and it is feared that schools will revert back to GCSEs and ‘A’ levels, and this may increase recruitment problems. • Other funding - other funding sources such as RDPE are important funding routes for the industry for demand responsive provision and it is essential that the industry is clear what it needs from the focus of skills provision in the post 2013 Rural Development Programme and similar funds (e.g. ESF). • Promoting skills in the sector - the sector is high skills but has low levels of formal qualifications. The sector already invests more in skills per employee than any other sector but it is critical that more of this training is accredited as the focus on industry funding grows. The next few years will see increased competition for skills funding, but also continued competition for new entrants. The sector must produce more detailed evidence on the skills it needs, and how these interact with the adoption of new technology and market changes. Whilst technology maybe expected to reduce labour requirements, in a dynamic global market this is not always true, with investment often leading to a larger market share and thus a need for more people even if productivity grows. Current data on workforce skill needs is poor, with reports suggesting a current balance between supply and demand, but this is disputed by larger and more progressive employers. To present a more robust case there is a need for in-depth research which engages leading businesses and employers to explore their needs. This research must be used with educational providers and funding agencies to lobby for appropriate provision, and this is an area which the East of England is well placed to lead. 2011/12 decisions on funding will be made this year and so it is vital that a clear case is made for funding by autumn 2010 with clarity on both course type and levels needed. Apprenticeships will grow in number and the sector should look at how it can use these to address its skills needs. EEDA is working with DBIS and DEFRA to set priorities, but needs clear evidence from the industry of what is needed. Conclusions. The East of England agri-food sector is a dynamic and proactive sector which is responding to multiple new pressures to increase production, to do this more sustainably and to address the negative consequence of issues such as poor dietary choices. Whilst the perception is that the sector’s employment has been falling this has only been true for parts of the food chain, particularly agriculture and food processing, and even here the decline is now believed to have stopped by most businesses who see the need to grow their workforce if production is to increase. The wider food chain is expected to continue to grow its workforce both due to growth in demand and changes in the type of product as consumers embrace catering services and added value. The sector faces a challenge in finding new, motivated and highly skilled people and must do more to sell a positive image of the sector to both young people, career changers and their influencers. The perceptions of the industry which many members of the public hold are outdated, and the strong career potential of the sector must be promoted at every opportunity to change these incorrect views. The type of staff needed will continue to change, with a strong growth in the demand for technologists, managers and leaders. There is also a challenge in ensuring that all education, whether for technicians or managers, combines scientific and management knowledge with practical application and skills. Delivery methods must seek to bridge the gap between R&D and academic study and commercial practice, because at one extreme a food processing worker or tractor driver now needs to understand why they are applying new techniques, and at the other extreme managers need to know how the physical production process can be streamlined or improved. It is also important to use delivery methods (and intermediaries) which all farmers or food businesses are comfortable with. The region has the largest concentration of agri-food R&D in Europe, with the John Innes Centre and Sainsbury Laboratory recently being recognized as the leading centre in the World in their fields . Building on this to ensure that students and businesses have access to this knowledge base is essential to future success, and developments which link businesses, researchers and students such as the InCrops project , Centre for Contemporary Agriculture or Advanced Training Partnerships should be supported to facilitate this process. The challenge is to move from ‘science for scientists’ to ‘science for business’ to help grow the sector and make it more sustainable. The sector needs an increased flow of new entrepreneurs both to bring new businesses or products to the mainstream food sector, but also to commercialise new research into sustainable products conducted in the region. This needs a dedicated programme to work with existing new entrants and to attract new people into the sector. The needs of the sector for future skills are poorly understood, partly because the sector has changed so rapidly in the last few years, and also because needs in the sector are so diverse. Many of the skills needed also cross traditional ‘sector’ boundaries as the food chain becomes more integrated and there is a to understand how changing the skills and technology in plant breeding or food formulation impacts on the needs in agriculture. At a time of funding constraints it is essential that more detailed intelligence and foresight is developed on how skill needs may change as the sector develops. Recommendations. To address the issues raised by the industry action will be needed by many organizations in a wide range of areas. The priorities which the region can address to tackle some of the issues raised include: 1. Improving understanding of industry skill needs - undertaking detailed research on how industry skill and employment needs may change in the coming decade. This should focus on foresight, looking not only at current trends but also consider how the new pressures on the sector and potential developments in R&D may change the demand for labour and skills. The region contains a number of large or progressive businesses as well as major business groups (co-operatives, trade organizations and others) who should be engaged in this work to develop a robust assessment of the way in which skill needs will develop along the whole food chain from input suppliers to the supermarket shelf or restaurant table. This assessment should be used with both skills providers and funders to ensure future provision meets industry needs. 2. Developing an enhanced programme to support entrepreneurship skills - the sector needs more new businesses and products to be developed and this requires an increase in particular in the numbers of young entrepreneurs who are equipped with the skills to run their own businesses. A number of organizations are active in this area including Young Farmers, the Centre for Contemporary Agriculture, InCrops and Suffolk County Council and others have expressed a desire to support this agenda. Action needs to be taken to build on existing initiatives by working collaboratively to develop a focused and enlarged programme. 3. Increased links between academic study, R&D and commercial practice - industry is keen to access more R&D, and there is also a concern that current academic study is not sufficiently linked to commercial practice or research. . The Centre for Contemporary Agriculture has been established to bridge the gap between students and commercial practice and research and should be supported in fulfilling this mission. In addition the region should continue to build on projects such as InCrops, the Colworth enterprise hub and the Innovation Farm at NIAB which have been established to bridge the gap between research and business. Other issues need tackling at a sectoral level, including the need to increase the public’s awareness of the positive career prospects in the industry. This area needs to build on existing initiatives such as the career profiles of the type promoted by Lantra (e.g. a day in the life of films, growcareers and other resources), industry open door events such as Farm Sunday and the planned ‘Big Conversation’ which is being organized by RASE to promote careers in the sector.

1000th Course Approved for LandSkills East

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Press release
1000th Course Approved to Give Farm Retailing the Market Edge LandSkills East has now approved its 1000th course for the farming and rural craft sector in the East of England. The course, being delivered by one of the 24 delivery partners, Tastes of Anglia, aims to help Farm Shops across the region to gain the skills in the effective merchandising of their produce. With 1000 courses approved the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) funded project has supported a vast array of courses from basic tractor driving to leadership and management courses, crop management to agronomy groups, poultry welfare to the safe use of medicines, pork butchery to meat quality, renewable energy and study tours abroad. The 1000th course titled ‘Effective Merchandising and Margins for Farm Retailing’ will run for one day on Tuesday 9th November at Tewin Bury Farm Hotel, Hertfordshire. A further identical course is being held on Tuesday 21st September at South Green Park Enterprise Centre, Mattishall, Norfolk. By running the courses at different ends of the region it is hoped that farm shops from across the region can attend. The courses will be run by food retailing expert Georgina Mason, joint owner with husband Ross, of the award winning Gonalston Farm Shop www.gonalstonfarmshop.co.uk. Georgina will be assisted by Charles Turnbull from Turnbulls www.turnbulls-deli.co.uk. The aim of the course is that it will be a practical hands on workshop so participants can learn how to do effective visual merchandising, understand how to maximise sales and basket spend and use margins to best advantage. It will also cover working with suppliers, how to plan promotions and maximise all potential sales. Julie West Chief Executive of Tastes of Anglia said of the workshop, I am delighted that we are able to offer this workshop to the sector, the two speakers are respected in the industry and have much to deliver to help farm shops and retailers improve their businesses. There is a great deal of interest in a course which can add to the bottom line; we are hopeful that the course will meet the needs of both farm shops, farmers markets and retailers in providing a fresh and professional perspective on their businesses. Gary Stokes LandSkills Chair of the Food Diversification and Rural Crafts said It is so refreshing to see tailor made training courses being developed to give the industry the support it so richly deserves. The additional benefits of this training being delivered by sector specialists will only enhance the offering and help maintain our regions standard of excellence. Landskills East is continuing to prove the need for bespoke, targeted training support for which the industry is now benefitting from. A number of courses have already been approved for the coming winters programme aimed at improving the skills of the workforce to help businesses develop and expand successfully. The project is also able to provide bursaries for individuals and information for this is available on the website. See more courses being offered on the LandSkills East website at www.landskillseast.co.uk

LandSkills East Newsletter September 2010

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The September Newsletter featuring Teddy Maufe from the Holkham Estate in North Norfolk and Crop Protection Courses on offer this Winter.
September 2010 Newsletter

RDPE Micro Enterprise Funding in Norfolk and Suffolk

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

£1.5 million of grant funding is available specifically for micro enterprise support and development through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in the Norfolk Coast and Broads, Brecks and Waveney Valley areas. The local action groups have combined funds of approximately £10 million, 15% of which is specifically to support the creation and development of micro-enterprises.
Micro-enterprises funded to date have included manufacturers, food and drink producers, tourism establishments and innovative IT software developments. A wide variety of rural micro-enterprises can be supported through the programme, from social enterprises to private companies, retail to service industries, traditional trades to cutting edge technology. Micro Enterprises are defined as having employees of 10 or less and with an annual turnover of less than €2,000,000, eligible grantable costs are as follows; •grant aid towards the costs of capital investment •start-up revenue costs •market research and feasibility studies •marketing support, product development, branding and design costs •technical skills acquisition, coaching and monitoring support •bespoke training intrinsic to individual project applications •technical support to help new businesses and social enterprises become established and to help existing businesses and social enterprises to consolidate and expand. For project applications to be considered they must: •be located within a LAG area – list of wards and maps available on www.ruralhub.info/lag •align with the LAG priorities •be a new activity or step change for the business or individuals applying •be sustainable after funding has been granted •demonstrate wider business and/or community benefits through collaboration or sharing of best practice •ensure similar activities or businesses in the local area are not displaced through the benefits of funding •have a sound match-funding package in place •be submitted by a legally constituted group or organisation. Application Process In general the LAG will look to invest between £5,000 and £150,000 per project and depending on the activity, size of business and extent of commercial return will contribute up to 50% towards overall project cost. Applicants should complete a project ideas form, downloadable from the website. Facilitators in each LAG area will assess the idea and if eligible will support the applicant through the application process; two stage for grants of under £50,000 and three stage for grants over £50,000. The timescale from idea to offer letter can vary between approximately 3 and 5 months, very much dependent on how quickly the applicant can produce a business case. Each Local Action Group has its own local development strategy and priorities which projects must align to, these are summarised below; The Brecks •Developing the area’s capacity to sustain increased levels of business activity •Supporting farm based diversification and modernisation within agriculture •Infrastructure to improve water efficiency in agriculture •Local supply chains for energy production, food, timber and basic commodity products. Norfolk Coast and Broads •Sustainable opportunities within the natural and built environment •Supporting efficient and effective water use, storage and distribution for agriculture •Supporting opportunities for the diversification and modernisation of farming •Local food initiatives •Rural business infrastructure and staff retention Waveney Valley •Modernisation and diversification of farming •Supporting businesses to meet the challenges facing the rural economy •Encouraging green and sustainable tourism •Developing and promoting local supply chains For more information on the programme please visit the website or contact the programme team; RDP General Enquiries Tel: 01603 848844 Email: rdp@easton-college.ac.uk Website: www.ruralhub.info/lag Steve Howard RDP Facilitator ‘The Brecks’ Tel: 01842 824811/07760751300 Email: showard@easton-college.ac.uk Carol Allen RDP Facilitator ‘Norfolk Coast and Broads’ Tel: 01328 850530/07760751301 Email: callen@easton-college.ac.uk Paul Mace RDP Facilitator ‘Waveney Valley’ Tel: 01508 528630/07733889031 Email: pmace@easton-college.ac.uk

North Norfolk 2010 Food and Drink Festival

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The North Norfolk Business Forum Agriculture Round Table is pleased to announce the first North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival. This celebration of all that is best about food that is grown, reared, caught or made in North Norfolk, will take place in the Courtyard of Holkham Hall, home of the Earl of Leicester, on Saturday and Sunday, 4th and 5th September 2010. During the Festival, up to 60 of North Norfolk’s finest food producers will be offering tastings and goods for sale. An added attraction is a rolling programme of cookery demonstrations, talks and demonstrations from local producers, advice from eminent North Norfolk chefs and celebrity cook-off challenges using local produce, all of which will take place in a Food Theatre with a large plasma screen to aid visibility. There will also be opportunities to meet the owners of a number of the region’s popular gastro pubs.
In the historic Courtyard of Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk NR23 1AB Free Entry (car parking £2.50 per car payable to Holkham Hall). This project is supported under the Rural Development Programme for England by EEDA, Defra and the EU

Funding Support for ‘Out of Season’ events

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

In the winter months, many tourism organisations go through a quiet time as visitor number fall along with the temperature. The Norfolk Coast and Broads Rural Development Programme is keen to fund initiatives that build on traditionally ‘out of season’ events, aiming to encourage visitors to the area.
Out of season is defined as the months from October to March, excluding any holidays such as half term, Christmas or Easter. Any idea needs to be a new initiative and not a repeat of something held previously. Activities can be natural or manmade and should demonstrate a level of co-operation across businesses, events or initiatives. Example of ideas could be an event to promote local food and drink, or to teach people about rural crafts, or to educate visitors about winter wildlife in the area. Ideally an initiative would link a few ideas together to create a larger project collaborating across several organisations. Funding is available to support capital set up costs, marketing and promotion, and hopefully can stimulate a string of events that can bolster trade for local organisations. If you are planning an event and wish to discuss the possibility of funding support, contact Carol Allen on 01328 850530 or call the Rural Enterprise Hub on 01603 731583.

LandSkills East August 2010 Newsletter

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Latest Newsletter from Landskills East featuring Guy Smith and Sam Steggles, winner of the Growing Business Awards 2010.
Newsletter August 2010

£140,000 granted to rural businesses in The Brecks

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Three businesses in the Brecks have secured £140,000 to fund a range of business development initiatives.
The first business to receive micro-enterprise support through the programme is Milbro Sports in Mildenhall. “Project Wired” secured a grant to support the installation of modern airgun pellet making technology which will allow higher grade pellets to be produced along with a significant increase in production capacity. Additionally, investment will include a wire making machine, enabling the business to make lead wire from recycled scrap lead. Wire forms the base material from which pellets will be made and the new technology will result in 66% less waste being produced in the wire making process. The overall result of this investment will be local job creation of up to 5 staff along with securing this small businesses future in an emerging global market. Milbro’s owner David Little was delighted. “We’ve been working hard for a long time towards this plant investment, but the economic downturn has made it increasingly tough for us to achieve the very thing that will safeguard the company and its workers. Now, with the help of the Brecks RDP we can move forward and become a real force to be reckoned with.” Two other projects funded under the programmes tourism measure which aims to develop responsible tourism within the Brecks. Both Equine Tourism Projects, it is hoped an equine tourism focus can be developed within the Brecks. Wideham Farm has secured a grant to support the development of a new equestrian business based on the edge of Kings Forest, opposite West Stow Country Park. Investment will develop the infrastructure at Wideham to enable equine enthusiasts to stay overnight in their own horsebox lorries while horses are stabled or kept in dedicated fenced paddocks. Hard standing areas along with water and electric hook-up points will be provided for eight visitors lorries while shower and toilet facilities will be provided in a renovated Breckland Flint barn. The secluded site will offer unrivalled access for the horse riding enthusiast into Kings Forest and its many trails along with the benefit of access to the Icknield Way. Bardwell Equestrian Centre received funding to set up similar services for a single lorry with horse and rider facilities. Located close to the Stanton Rides a network of 19 miles of public bridleways the project will promote the use of this route. Both businesses hope to complement existing venues and develop a future network of equine tourism facilitates within the Brecks area, allowing visitors to enjoy the fragile environment of the Brecks in a low impact way. Lindsay Hargreaves, Chair of the Brecks Local Action Group said “These are just the sort of projects we are looking to fund. In the current economic climate is it great to be able to offer businesses like Milbro Sports the opportunity to expand, compete in a global market place and take on more local staff. The equine tourism projects are key to our strategy in developing the Brecks as a leading destination for sustainable tourism” Steve Howard RDP Facilitator for the Brecks said “We have a total budget in the Brecks of £3.3 million which needs to be spent by the end of 2013 so there are lots more opportunities for businesses and organisations to come forward in the Brecks. It’s my role to support applicants through the application process and businesses can contact me if they have a project idea in mind”. Local Delivery of the Rural Development Programme in the Brecks is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which is funded by the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). In our region the programme is managed by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). Locally the programme is administered by the Rural Enterprise Hub at Easton College and Norfolk County Council. The funds are administered using the ‘Leader approach’ and are managed by Local Action Groups (LAGs). The Rural Development Programme in the Brecks supports agribusiness development and diversification, water use and distribution, sustainable rural tourism, local food and rural business development. Similar programmes are also being delivered in the Norfolk Coast and Broads and the Waveney Valley. For more information potential applicant can visit the website on: www.ruralhub.info/lag

£142,000 granted to rural businesses in Norfolk Coast and Broads

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Six organisations across the Norfolk Coast and Broads area have secured £142,000 to fund a range of business development initiatives. Congratulations go to: Barley to Beer; W.J. Bracey Limited; Brays Cottage Pork Pies; Farm Guidance Limited; Hirst Farms Limited and North Norfolk Business Forum;
Brays Cottage Pork Pies based at Bayfield Breck near Holt have secured funding to support development of their micro enterprise. Their project will develop a new marketing and packaging strategy and purchase new equipment to expand their existing business. Sarah Pettegree, co-director of Bray’s Cottage Pork Pies said “From the outset we have built our business entirely from working capital, but we welcomed the opportunity to apply for the grant. It represents a significant financial input which will help us grow a little faster and put in place some very necessary projects that, without this help, would have had to stay on the back-burner for several years. We are thrilled to have this assistance as it will help us create more employment in a rural area and to spread the word about our pies and Norfolk.” North Norfolk Business Forum has received funding to set up and run the 2010 North Norfolk and Drink Festival. Planned in The Courtyard at Holkham Hall on 4th and 5th September, this will be a first for the area. The aim is to showcase local food and drink through an interactive food theatre and by offering 60 local artisanal purveyors of quality food and drink the opportunity to promote their produce. Two water efficiency projects have received funding: W.J. Bracey Limited will modernise their irrigation equipment, creating a much more efficient system, reducing water loss, and irrigating higher value crops. Hirst Farms Limited estimate annual savings of almost 5,000 CuM3 of water from their rainwater harvesting project. The funding will support tanks, pumps filters and pipe work to enable the collection, storage and reuse of rainwater. Two projects will enable the creation of the following new micro enterprises: • Barley to Beer is a collaborative project across two farms in Norfolk Coast and Broads and the Waveney Valley. The new organisation will promote the history and importance of the region for growing malting barley and the relationship it has with the beer produced from it. • Farm Guidance Limited, a new collaborative organisation of farmers, will supply a global positioning system for precision farming across 150,000 ha of land. This project will also set up a new precision farming centre, providing seasonal demonstrations of equipment throughout the year. Andrew Alston, Chair of the Norfolk Coast and Broads Local Action Group said “We are extremely pleased to be able to support projects that create and support local rural businesses. In the current economic climate is it great to be able to offer businesses like Bray’s Pork Pies the opportunity to expand and compete in a regional market place and take on more local staff. Support for agriculture through diversification, water efficiency and new technology is exactly what this fund is here to support and we wish all the businesses that received support the best of luck for the future”. Carol Allen, RDP Facilitator for the Norfolk Coast and Broads said “We have a total budget of £3.8 million which needs to be spent by the end of 2013 so there remains further opportunities for businesses and organisations to apply. As Facilitator, it’s my role to support applicants through the process and organisations can contact me if they have a project idea in mind”. Local Delivery of the Rural Development Programme in the Norfolk Coast and Broads is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which is funded by the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). In our region the programme is managed by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). Locally the programme is administered by the Rural Enterprise Hub at Easton College and Norfolk County Council. The funds are administered using the ‘Leader approach’ and are managed by Local Action Groups (LAGs). The Rural Development Programme in the Norfolk Coast and Broads supports agribusiness development and diversification, water use and distribution, sustainable rural tourism, local food and rural business development. Similar programmes are also being delivered in the Brecks and the Waveney Valley. For more information potential applicant can visit the website on: www.ruralhub.info/lag

£155,000 granted to rural businesses in the Waveney Valley

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Three organisations have secured £155,756 to fund a range of new initiatives. The funding will support projects that will benefit farmers, food producers, and tourism providers in the Waveney Valley.
College Farm, near Beccles has received a grant to diversify and set up high quality camping. At time when the shortage of camping options in the area is being highlighted. The farm will be providing a green tourism offer linked to the Featherdown Farm concept. Camping accommodation will be provided through 6 tents, housing up to 6 people in each, along with options for cycling, walking, fishing and canoeing. Understanding how a farm works is high on the agenda and visitors will be able to collect their own eggs and make their own bread in a communal bread oven. Local food will be promoted through a small scale farm shop using local suppliers. The project will provide extra income to the farm as well as bringing welcome visitors to the Waveney Valley. An exciting new tourism project has also been funded by the Waveney Valley LAG and local businesses have a chance to get involved. The Boudicca Way Project will establish the long distance footpath and the surrounding area as a place to enjoy and spend some time. The project will publicise the route through an online facility that will enable visitors to plan an itinerary chosen from the various options available in terms of accommodation, food and drink, local interpretation and nearby places of interest. A collaborative partnership of local businesses will be established along the route that will work together to promote the Boudicca Way as a genuine option for the visitor to the Waveney Valley seeking a quality experience in our rural countryside. The project has sustainability at its heart, promoting green travel options, responsible tourism and helping partner businesses achieve accreditation in the Green Tourism Business Scheme. In addition small scale improvements have been funded at the Old Bakery, Pulham Market, which will result in two extra rooms for visitors to the area, one suitable for visitors with restricted mobility. Project Leader Steve Falvey said “This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses of all sizes to come together, reap the benefits of partnership working, and promote a new tourism offer around the existing Boudicca Way Path. Whilst being tourism based there are so many ways that local businesses of all sorts can benefit from an increase in tourism and recognition of what the Waveney Valley has to offer. I urge anyone with an interest in tourism, our countryside and the local economy to get in touch and see how they can get involved.” Another farm benefiting from the funding is Place Farm at Stuston, who are part of the new enterprise ‘Barley to Beer’. Initiated by Brendan Moore, Director of the East Anglian Brewers Co-operative the project aims to tell the story of how important the region is for growing malting barley and the relationship with the beer that is produced from it. The project will ensure brewers, retailers, freehouses and farmers take the necessary steps to ensure that local beer and barley increase their share of the market and maintain their historic and vital role in the locality of East Anglia. Paul Mace RDP Facilitator for the Waveney Valley said “We have a total budget in the Waveney Valley of £3.3 million which needs to be spent by the end of 2013 so there are lots more opportunities for businesses and organisations to come forward in the area. It’s my role to support applicants through the application process and businesses can contact me if they have a project idea in mind”. Local Delivery of the Rural Development Programme in the Waveney Valley is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which is funded by the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). In our region the programme is managed by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). Locally the programme is administered by the Rural Enterprise Hub at Easton College and Norfolk County Council. The funds are administered using the ‘Leader approach’ and are managed by Local Action Groups (LAGs). The Rural Development Programme in the Waveney Valley supports agribusiness development and diversification, water use and distribution, sustainable rural tourism, local food and rural business development. Similar programmes are also being delivered in the Norfolk Coast and Broads and the Brecks. For more information potential applicant can visit the website on: www.ruralhub.info/lag

2010 Royal Norfolk Show

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 12:00:00 GMT

The Rural Enterprise Hub would like to thank all the businesses that supported the stand at this years Royal Norfolk Show. The stand at the Spirit of Enterprise proved to be a great success with many individuals and businesses taking the opportunity to discuss funding, skills and training opportunities with the team. We look forward to seeing you again at next years Royal Norfolk Show, which is due to take place on 29th & 30th June 2011.
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Next Generation Conference

Mon, 17 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT

UK farming needs a flow of new entrants to bring ideas, energy and the renewed ambition needed to sustain a dynamic industry. FARMING – THE NEXT GENERATION is a conference designed to address that challenge. Over an evening and a day, the conference will take on the key issues that need to be addressed by new entrants and those with whom they will work to create a sustainable, successful industry – whether or not those partnerships are within families. Conference dinner: 17th May Full Conference: 18th May Venue: Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG Further infomation and booking details can be found by visiting www.ruralenterprisehub.info/thenextgeneration
In synopsis the programme features: May 17th Dinner – Speaker: John Baker, Director, Beginning Farmer Center, Iowa State University, outlining US experience of the succession issue. He will be joined by other international guests who will give their insight on the new entrant challenge including an insight into what is happening across the EU. May 18th The Conference – A range of speakers will tackle the key decisions affecting family succession, new farming opportunities and the need for skills in setting up and running new farm businesses. Case studies will highlight working examples of successful transitions. With a special entry fee deal for two generations attending from the same family, the event is designed to appeal to those starting a farming career, families tackling succession issues, advisors, professionals and policy makers working to support new entrants.

Waveney Valley Market Towns Initiative

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

A minimum of £40k of RDPE funding is ring fenced for each of the market towns of Loddon, Eye, Diss, Harleston, Halesworth, Bungay and Beccles until February 2011. We are looking for each of these towns to submit a collaborative application to help improve the economic performance of the town and the Waveney Valley.
Seven market towns on the Norfolk-Suffolk border are being given the chance to bid for substantial grants to boost the economy in the Waveney Valley. Groups in Beccles, Bungay, Diss, Eye, Harleston, Halesworth and Loddon are all being asked to submit ideas that would benefit the economies of the towns and the wider Waveney Valley, with each town able to bid for a minimum of £40,000 funding to make their ideas a reality. The ‘Market Towns Initiative’ is being launched tomorrow (Tuesday, 23 February) by the Waveney Valley Local Action Group, a partnership of local entrepreneurs and professionals representing interests in farming, rural businesses, community and tourism. Representatives from each of the towns have been invited to South Norfolk District Council today where the initiative and bidding process will be explained. They will then have until the end of June to submit proposals for ‘round one’ grants under £50,000 - with a further round running later in the year - and until December to submit bids for grants of more than £50,000. Although each town is invited to decide what measures would benefit their local economy the most, it is intended that any bids should include ideas that: • Support basic services for the economy and rural population • Encourage tourism activities • Prioritise conservation and upgrading of rural heritage. In February last year, the Waveney Valley Local Action Group received £3.3 million as part of a successful bid for European funding by the Rural Enterprise Hub at Easton College and Norfolk County Council. There are a number of projects currently progressing through the application process; creating new micro-enterprises and supporting farmers to diversify out of agriculture, but this new initiative is aimed specifically at Market Towns. Bonnie Robinson, Programme Manager said: “Funding has been secured for the whole of the Waveney Valley area but this new initiative will ensure the businesses and people of the Market Towns specifically benefit from the programme” Patricia Holtom, Chair of the Local Action Group said: "The abundance of small, unspoilt, working market towns with their historic centres has been identified as being of considerable importance to the economy of the Waveney Valley. This programme creates an opportunity for them to identify a particular aspect of their town that could benefit from the grants available or to work together to develop some interesting projects that would benefit the area as a whole. It should prove to be an exciting and rewarding challenge." The Waveney Valley is home to one of the most concentrated collections of traditional market towns in England. These towns form the lifeline to their rural hinterlands and as such are critical to the development and prosperity of the people who live and work throughout the Waveney Valley. Norman Hart, Vice Chair of the LAG and Director of Harleston Information Plus said “The market towns of the Waveney Valley play a key role as bustling hives of economic and social activity, extending their influence far into surrounding communities. The impact of their role is remarkable; exceeding geographic and economic perceptions many times over. If the Waveney Valley were a precious necklace the market towns would be its pearls.” In parallel to the Market Towns Initiative, individual applications for funding can be made to the programme. Funding is available for agribusiness development and diversification, sustainable rural tourism, local food and rural business development.

Developing Skills in Crop Protection

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Press Notice
A new course called ‘BASIS FOUNDATION AWARD IN AGRONOMY’ is being offered by Traineast and being part funded by LandSkills East. It starts on the 22nd February at The Crown Lodge Hotel, Outwell with James Christian-Ilett as the tutor. Increased demand from farming managers has helped the development of this course being offered to delegates with limited crop experience and knowledge. It serves as a preliminary course for the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection (Agriculture or Vegetables) Course. For others, who have a role which will not involve giving agronomy and crop protection advice, it is a standalone course providing them with a level of understanding and knowledge appropriate for their work. This is a diverse group including some farm staff, quality assurance officers, machinery manufacturer personnel and others. Jo Bruce, Training Organiser for Traineast said of the course “This is the first time that we have offered this course which will look at a number of aspects including weeds, pests and diseases, along with soil and crop nutrition both in the classroom and also out on the farm. It will be spread over a period of six days across the calendar year so that farm crops can be seen at different stages” The LandSkills programme has now approved over 400 courses with more being added every week. Mike Mack Director of the Rural Enterprise Hub at Easton College said of the programme “ Training programmes ,such as those offered by Traineast , show that LandSkills is a demand-led project. LandSkills will fund the activities industry requires to help them develop the skills needed to carry out their roles effectively. All eligible farmers in the East can take advantage of the funding available, so if we aren’t delivering something that you feel is vital to your development then contact LandSkills now.” The contact number for the course is Traineast on 01366 500050, for LandSkills East 01603 748844 or LandSkills East website www.LandSkillsEast.co.uk

Are the Farmers of Eastern England Ready for the Challenges Ahead?

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Press release
Press Notice Re:Are the Farmers of Eastern England Ready for the Challenges Ahead? Our food and farming sector is among the most progressive and productive in the world, capitalising as it does on the soils, the climate, the research base and the business skills that we have. However, there is change afoot and new challenges in terms of world food requirements, carbon impacts, environmental demands, climate change and economic uncertainty face the industry. To ensure that our region’s food and farming sector can meet these challenges and continue to enhance its position, we need leaders with the skills and knowledge to continue to drive the sector forward. David Lawrence, Principal “We at Easton College have a high regard for the management standards in the region’s agri-food industries and we believe that there is a significant potential to provide sector leaders for the future. We are now announcing our contribution to developing such leaders – the Leadership and Innovation for Agriculture to 2020 programme. We are pleased to say that this is supported by LandSkills East, the region’s RDPE-funded training initiative.” The course that we have designed has been built largely around the Vision 2020 paper prepared for the East of England Sustainable Farming and Food Group and, using a mix of seminars, visits, debates and group work, will develop delegates’ awareness of the challenges and solutions for the sector, and their leadership skills. We have an outstanding group of speakers to inspire the delegates; these include Prof. Tim O’Riordan (UEA); Richard Powell (chair of Sustainability East); Dr. Jerry Knox and Prof. Guy Kirk (Cranfield); Dr John French (Director, InCrops project); Noel Bartram (Group Chief Executive, Bernard Matthews); Dr David Hughes (Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing, Imperial College); Martin Redfearn (National Agricultural Specialist, Barclays Bank); John Latham (Chairman, Camgrain); Richard McDonald (until recently Director-General NFU); and many more. We now need to identify the future leaders for the region and invite them to join the course. If you know someone who you think would be interested in and benefit from this course, please talk to them about attending the course, and ask them to contact Richard Rampton on 01603 731 241. In this way we can assemble a really strong group who will eventually perform outstandingly in leading the industry over the next ten or so years.

Trainees to gain valuable BASIS course training in East Anglia

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Press Release
The very popular BASIS FSTS Certificate in Crop Protection, the foundation course to the BASIS Diploma in Agriculture, starts shortly at three venues around East Anglia, Gosfield Lakes Golf Club near Braintree in Essex, Timbers Motel, Fincham in Norfolk and Processors and Growers Research Organisation in Thornaugh, Cambridgeshire. The course is being delivered by members of Anglia Rural Training through the LandSkills East training project, with eligible trainees able to access 65% funding. It is aimed at practical farmers and land managers and will provide them with agronomic skills which are needed in the industry. The course will cover a number of areas including legislation, storage, transport, pesticides, nutrition in soil and grassland, integrated crop management techniques (ICM) along with in depth studies in a number of crops including Oilseed Rape, Potatoes, Sugar beet, and Cereals. The courses start in November and are delivered in a modular way spread over 16 days between November and March. As well as Basis FSTS, there is also a Foundation Basis Course and other Basis courses available, which all form part of the BASIS Diploma in Agriculture, including BETA (Biodiversity and Environmental Training for Advisors), FACTS Fertiliser Module, Plant Protection Award, Soil and Water and Nutrient Management Certificate. These courses are also scattered throughout East Anglia with some places still available – see the Landskills East website for course availability. BASIS® is an independent organisation set up in 1978 to establish and assess standards in the pesticide industry relating to storage, transport and competence of staff. It is an industry self-regulated scheme for staff involved in the UK Crop Protection Industry. All buying organisations, farmers and land managers require the supplier to have completed this course as a good standard for crop management and managers themselves participate in the course to enable them to fully understand the crop protection and agronomic decisions being made by their specialist. John Bucknell a partner with W.P Bucknell & Son at Fingrith Hall Farm in Essex has attended one of the courses and said – “Growing arable crops is getting more complicated these days and farmers need to know more about the science so that we can grow crops to a better quality and standard. All farmers are growing crops to Farm Assurance standards; buyers will not accept crops for human consumption without it and to comply with farm assurance standards growers have to have any advice on crop protection chemicals given by BASIS qualified advisers. Whether we grow organically or with chemicals we need to understand how to keep the crops healthy and to produce the good quality food that is required in today’s market” Debbie Wedge of Anglia Rural Training said- “Today’s growers and managers have to keep pace with new legislation, developments in crop protection products and environmental awareness in their use. Completing and successfully passing the examination of the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection, and the other associated modules, gives these people the advantage, in knowing that they are carrying out the day to day decision making, in the correct and proper way.“

Easton College Summit Series - Improving Your Planning Application

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Easton College, working with LandSkills East, is proud to announce a number of new training opportunities; these are aimed at the professional farmer, manager and landowner and are designed to help them get to the top and stay there. They will be delivered by specialists in their subject, with the latest knowledge at their finger-tips.
A 1-day course at Easton College’s Rural Support Centre on Tuesday November 4th starting at 9.30 a.m. with Julie Carpenter (a Planning Consultant with wide experience in both Private Practice and Local Government, specialising in rural planning issues) and Richard Rampton (NRBAS) Cost: £60 Nearly all diversifications and many other farm business developments need planning approval from the local authority. There are forms to fill in, conditions to meet and hoops to be gone through. Yet the whole process need not be fraught with difficulty and expense; it requires a cool head, some groundwork and an understanding of the system. This new course will provide just that. This one-day course will: - Introduce the concepts underlying the current planning system - Explain the prior notification system for many agricultural developments - Identify local planning policy drivers and the aims and objectives of a Local Development Framework, and how to align an application with that Framework explain the drivers for diversification as a tool for developing a farm business show how to use of the Planning Portal in submitting a planning application. - Explain when to use professional assistance with a planning application and to provide tools for selecting and evaluating such assistance. To book a place, please contact Jane Strudwick: tel.: 01603 731 211 or e-mail: jstrudwick@easton.ac.uk with your name, the course name and the number of places you require.

£1 Million LandSkills East Winter training programme announced with over 100 courses now approved

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Press Release
LandSkills East, can announce today 3rd November 2009 that farmers and associated rural businesses in the East will benefit from £1m of RDPE funding this winter. This comes at the time when we are delighted to announce over 100 courses have now been made available and more are being added each day. Farmers and associated rural businesses across the region will be able to access up to 65% funding towards training activities, study visits and more, through the LandSkills East programme. David Lawrence Principal of Easton College, who manage the delivery of LandSkills East. “ Developing the skills of staff is key for any business, however the cost of training and the ability to afford the time to train is always difficult especially during a recession. We are pleased that this winter there is funding to help farming businesses to spread their training budgets further. We are also delighted to see the diversity of courses currently being offered by the partners of LandSkills East and how the courses have been designed to fit with the businesses needs. I encourage employers to take up these opportunities to help improve their own business competitiveness” The ever changing courses on offer range from Energy Efficiency to Biodiversity, Livestock Transportation to Dairy Herd Management, Business Coaching to Leadership and Innovation, Managing Poor Performance to Team Working. The variety covers both vocational courses and management and leadership courses aimed at those working in the industry at this time but also attracting new entrants into farming and rural businesses through the programme. Elveden Estate Farm Manager, Lindsay Hargreaves, who received funding through the programme, describes his spring 2009 MBA-style short management course at Cranfield University as “life changing”. Lindsay said: ‘My primary motivation for taking part in a programme of this sort was the recognition that the pattern of rural business is changing rapidly. Rural leaders need not only to grasp a wider range of business skills, but also to understand better how to function within increasingly complex organisations. The bursary that I received from Landskills East was enormously beneficial in helping me to fund this important piece of personal and business skills development’.