Business Link Launches Free Specialist Workshops
for Rural and Land-Based Businesses in the South East
More than 3,500 land-based businesses across the South East are being given the opportunity to attend a series of free half-day workshops to help them develop their businesses sustainably and profitably in ever changing circumstances.
Business Link has been contracted by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to run the two-year programme, which aims to improve skills, business acumen and viability across all rural and land-based businesses in the region. With the backing and input of both the National Farmers’ Union and The Country Land and Business Association, these highly specialised workshops promise to be an invaluable source of information for all those who work on the land. Businesses in Sussex, Berkshire, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Kent are invited to attend.
The seven key areas to be addressed are:
* Climate change
* Planning issues
* Business diversification
* Crops for energy generation
* Water utilisation and resource efficiencies
* Energy resource savings
* Food supply chain
“This is a fabulous opportunity for the South East,” said John Evans, Business Link Rural Business Advisor. “Urban businesses are generally well served by business support organisations and have many more networking opportunities to allow them to discuss new ideas. Farmers and managers of land related businesses are often more isolated and therefore get stuck doing the same things, even when they doubt they are the best way.
This scheme has been designed to help owners, tenants and managers to take a fresh look at their
businesses and find new ways of working that could ultimately help their businesses develop sustainably.”
The programme is being managed by Business Link Sussex. The first workshop on Climate Change took place on 5th February at Plumpton College and feedback has been positive:
James Mulleneux, South East Policy Advisor, National Farmers Union; “The presenter conveyed the subject in an interesting way and at a level that was easily understood. These workshops are covering a range of crucial subjects and climate change is no exception, it was thought provoking and time well spent.\"
John Major, South East Region Surveyor, Country Land and Business Association; “The workshop brought together widely discussed and publicised global predictions, focusing them on the important issues facing all rural and land based businesses in the South East. It was a down to earth, user friendly and really held one\'s attention allowing constructive debate and exchange of ideas on the practical options and opportunities that climate change will impose on rural businesses.”
Business Diversification Workshops in March include: 4th- Berkshire Agricultural College (BCA); 6th - Merrist Wood, Guildford; 11th – Brinsbury College, Pulborough; 13th – Tythe Barn, Bicester; 17th – Sparsholt College, Winchester. Planning Issues Workshops in March include: 7th – Plumpton College, East Sussex; 12th – Hadlow College, Tonbridge; 26th – BCA; 31st March Sparsholt College. For full details and calendar of workshops please visit the website at www.ruralbookings.co.uk. Places must be booked in advance by visiting the website
or calling 0845 600 9 006.
Any organisation or individual who is interested in being a delivery partner for the other remaining workshops, should contact John Evans at [email protected] with details of speciality skills and possible geographic coverage.
For further information please contact:
Katie Ollerenshaw
Business Link PR
Tel: 01444 241 341