The inaugural Fresh Start Dairy Academy in the South West, covering Somerset, Devon and the area surrounding Cannington Centre was officially launched at the Royal Bath and West Show on 29 May.
The Chairman of Fresh Start, Denis Chamberlain, presented the Dairy Academy initiative to industry representatives from across the region. Jeremy Kerswell, Head of Land-Based, Sports and Services at Bridgwater College, spoke of his delight at the College’s involvement in such an important initiative for the future of the farming industry.
The venture, which is supported by the Prince’s Countryside Fund to help new entrants to dairy farming, will offer business training and mentoring, and provide a base point for potential match making - introducing dairy farmers who wish to retire or step back to those with ambitions to enter the industry.
Developed and managed by Fresh Start, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, Dairy Co, Dairy UK and other representation from the farming community, 20 places are available for applicants over 18 years of age. The venture, which will be based at Bridgwater College’s Cannington Centre, is being launched following a successful pilot initiative at Reaseheath College in Cheshire. A third dairy academy is to be shortly launched at Gelli Aur, Carmarthenshire. All academies have support from the Prince’s Countryside Fund.
The Cannington academy, supported by a local steering group containing representatives from the National Farmers Union, Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Barclays Bank, Moore Scarrott and Somerset’s Dairy Careers Project, will commence in September 2013 and focus on a series of eight meetings featuring specialist speakers and mentors on business planning, financing, marketing, and entrepreneurial skills. Participants will also be introduced to different routes to start up a business ranging from joint ventures, shared equity partnerships and contract farming to outright ownership.
Fresh Start Dairy Academy’s Alison Rickett commented: “There are a large number of enthusiastic individuals who want to enter practical dairy farming and, whilst the traditional route to finding a place on the ladder via a county council smallholding is limited nowadays, there are mechanisms to explore other routes which have been successfully implemented in other major dairy farming countries including joint ventures and shared equity arrangements.
“Consequently, we are indebted to the Prince’s Countryside Fund for enabling us to provide a second time opportunity to introduce new entrants to dairy farmers who may be seeking to support the next generation. The academy will provide potential entrants with access to a wide range of industry professionals at local and national level.”
Rickett added: “Fresh Start was set up in 2004 to help find ways for new entrants to start up business in land-based sectors. In 2010, Fresh Start successfully trialled a specialist pig academy which attracted over 400 applicants for 20 places. Within several months of completing the course, two new pig unit start-ups were launched, with three others looking to progress when possible.
“Our pilot Fresh Start Dairy Academy at Reaseheath College attracted 15 participants from both farming and non farming backgrounds. The new format has been very well received and the entire group have found the experience very worthwhile and inspiring. Some of the group have formed a new discussion group under the wing of the local Dairy Co officer and provide a valuable network for each other.”
She adds: “If these dairy academies can help even a few into dairy farming, or we can help them along with their planning, then we will have achieved our aim.”
