Entrepreneurs in Dairying is a course designed to help those in the dairy industry plan the future of their dairy business. Bridgwater College will host eight sessions at its Cannington Centre, which will include topics on business plans, finance, and contracts, amongst others.

Launched by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) in collaboration with DairyCo, the NFU and The Andersons Centre, the programme is open to 15 candidates aged over 21 and the sessions will be delivered by national industry specialists accompanied by a local farming business.

Jeremy Kerswell, Assistant Principal for Land-based studies at Bridgwater College said,

“We’re delighted to offer this exciting project for the second year running. The Cannington Centre has positioned itself as the leading provider of dairy related training and education in the South West in recent years and this unique programme will add significant value to the sector.”

Tim Brigstocke, RABDF policy director said,

“RABDF has discovered first hand from its previous training and knowledge exchange activities that there is a training need among people already working on farms, for example those five years out of college, herd managers and farmers’ sons and daughters without a future on the family unit. They are all keen to progress up the ladder, however to do so they require training in specialist areas such as how to farm in their own right through joint ventures or contracting arrangements and how to run a business.

“Entrepreneurs in Dairying has been developed by RABDF to fill this apparent void, with the help of three complementary organisations: DairyCo offering field officer support and DairyPro professional status; the NFU, the voice of British farming; and The Andersons Centre with a proven track record of advising on the various available business arrangements.

“Furthermore, we are fully aware that farming can be a lonely career and that our course participants would benefit from a ‘guardian angel’ to call up to discuss issues which will enable them to make better business decisions for themselves. One of the unique features of Entrepreneurs in Dairying is the offer of a specialist mentor, fully trained by RABDF in conjunction with the respective college, and matched to the needs of the individual student in their locality. We believe the opportunity for mentoring is an important element to business training which has been sadly lacking in agriculture whilst it is commonplace in other sectors.”

The Cannington Centre’s programme will run on the following dates:

• Introduction to Entrepreneurs in Dairying: Monday 21 September, 6pm – 9pm
• The dairy supply chain: Week commencing 28 September, full day
• Finance course: Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October, 10am – 4pm both days
• Your business plan: Monday 19 October, 6pm – 9pm
• Financing your dairy business: Monday 9 November, 6pm – 9pm
• Contracts and price management: Monday 23 November, 6pm – 9pm
• Challenges and opportunities: Monday 7 December, 6pm – 9pm
• Final session: Wednesday 13 January 2016, full day, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

For those wishing to apply for the programme, the application deadline is Friday 11 September. The programme commences on Monday 21 September and will cost £350 +VAT per candidate. To apply visit www.rabdf.co.uk/entrepreneurs-in-dairying.