PROJECT SUMMARY

To provide an agricultural and rural business support programme across the County of Somerset offering: quality agricultural/rural business guidance and support; signposting to additional rural business support; creating access to training, skills and development; assisting in the creation of rural networks and co-operatives.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The transition to the Single Farm Payment has been called the most fundamental change to British agriculture since the repeal of the Corn Laws.

In this economic climate many businesses are being faced with a stark option. Either restructure or cease trading as a viable enterprise.  No farm enterprise operates in isolation so detrimental impacts affect the whole supply chain from seed and feed suppliers, through to abattoirs, processors, wholesalers and finally retailers.

Whilst some of the more entrepreneurial businesses have diversified and moved on, the vast majority are still unsure which direction to take. For these businesses the need to review their position, and if necessary to restructure is becoming increasingly urgent.

In this period of change, the Somerset Rural Business Support Service provides a vital one to one support service for rural businesses seeking to generate additional income, through the employment of Agricultural Development Officers covering each district. The current programme has built on the experience of the 5 year Somerset Agricultural Advisory Service programme which had an outstanding track record in the Somerset rural economy.

Enquiries to the service may be direct or signposted to us from partner organisations such as Business Link, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and Somerset Food Links.

The range of support the service offers is extensive. Training courses are offered to groups of farmers to develop new skills, detailed analysis of business plans can be undertaken, assistance can be provided with grant applications and signposting to partner organisations can be offered. An important role is the provision of a link between the planning departments and applicants.

The advisory staff engaged on the project have very close cross linkages to partner organisations to ensure effective co-ordination. Examples include:


Somerset Food links steering group
Leader+ Local Action Group
Somerset Orchard Working Group
Somerset Land Economy Group
Somerset Workspace Panel

Training workshops & special interest groups

The training workshops are an attempt to equip farmers with the new skills they need to develop new strands to their businesses, and include “Basic Business Principles”,  “IT for Farmers” (every winter for 10 weeks), “Marketing for Profit” and  “Employing & Managing People” (both a 2-day programme), “Advertising & Promotion”, “Winning Effective Editorial”, “Successful Product Presentation & Promotion”, amongst others.  There is always good attendance at these workshops.    The farmer ”Special Interest” groups I have set up, to encourage and enable farmers to work more closely together and share knowledge, ideas and experience, include The Better Business Group, the IT Group, and the Quantock Sheep Group.  Each group has 15-20 members and meets about 4 times a year, when the farm work allows. 

The Agricultural Development Officers, part funded through Somerset Rural Renaissance continue to have a key role in helping rural business through this period of increasing uncertainty and change in the Somerset rural economy.

Paul Philpott, Development Officer for South Somerset, assisted farmer Duncan Palmer at Bower Hinton with his grant application to secure a grant for a farm shop (see photos). The diversification has gone from strength to strength and he has been awarded Somerset Life's best newcomers award. The shop is also promoted on the Somerset Foodlinks Levels Best web page.

To find out more about the achievements of the Somerset Rural Business Support Service read the consultants' final evaluation report or the internal review and recommendations.