A public relations specialist in farming and rural industries has been sharing her expertise with Newcastle University agriculture students working on a final year project on farm diversification.
Northumberland farmer’s daughter Barbara Huddart, who runs Wooler-based Glendale PR and Marketing, was invited to speak to the third year students about farm diversification projects which they have supported.
In this practical session at the University she highlighted the importance of completing a feasibility study, and having a clear marketing and PR Strategy to move the enterprise forward.
The undergraduates are working on a project that would be suitable to add value to a farm near Heddon on the Wall.
They worked on case studies of diversifications such as green funerals, luxury glamping and food service operations.
Glendale PR and Marketing is well known across northern England and southern Scotland for its work to promote businesses in the agricultural and rural sectors.
Barbara shared fresh ideas with the students about successful initiatives she has been involved with that have added extra income to farming business.
They include Oleifera Rape Seed Oil, Doddington Dairy ice cream and yoghurt, glamping, farm shops and egg business diversifications.
Barbara said: “At Glendale PR and Marketing, we have worked with many farming businesses over the years, a number are now market leaders in their sectors and highly visible both regionally and nationally.
“But it’s important to realise that a huge amount of thought goes into creating a successful farm diversification.
“I spoke to the students about the different steps from assessing an idea, understanding how to market, brand and promote it to customers, and then using PR and social media to get the message out to as wide an audience as possible.”
Part of the students’ task is to produce a thorough marketing plan for their diversification idea, and Mrs Huddart’s presentation provided them with an insight into the practicalities of completing this important element of their degree programme.
The information came from real case studies of diversifications, some of which have been so successful they now generate more income than the original farming business.
Simon Parker, lecturer in Farm Business Management at Newcastle University, said: “It is essential that students are exposed to real-life business situations in their farm management course.
“As part of that, they need to meet people and businesses who have specialist farming and agricultural knowledge that they are willing to share with the next generation.
“We’d like to thank Glendale PR and Marketing for talking to students and giving them some great ideas – as well as the practical background – to help with this project.”
Glendale PR and Marketing has been working with tourism, agriculture and rural businesses across the North East, Cumbria and the Borders for more than 20 years, helping clients obtain regional and national coverage of their products and services.
