Could you be a ‘provider’ or a ‘seeker’? Farming Connect’s ‘Venture’ programme matches landowners and farmers with those seeking a new route into the industry.
Is your farm business reaching its potential? Have you got the time, energy and resources to ensure that it’s resilient, sustainable and profitable as the industry heads into uncertain economic times?
If not, you may want to sign up to attend one of Farming Connect’s Venture workshops.
The Venture programme has already attracted more than 170 applicants since it was first launched in December 2015, and with a new autumn recruitment campaign likely to boost the number further, this could be the perfect time to find your new business partner.
If you are a landowner or farmer in Wales and you are broadly considering exiting the industry or scaling back in some way, could you be one of Farming Connect’s Venture programme ‘providers’?
Or perhaps you are one of the many skilled and focused individuals who knows a lot about farming but can’t quite get your foot on the ladder, or earn a decent livelihood from it? If so, could you be one of the Venture programme’s ‘seekers’?
Throughout Wales there are now many paired-up individuals or groups who are successfully running very successful businesses together and more profitably than they could achieve before they joined forces.
Many more are working with their chosen consultant and specialist rural solicitor to investigate the potential of a new joint venture.
Farming Connect has arranged a series of six regional workshops which start in late September, to bring together landowners and farmers wanting to exit the farming industry or scale back with those who are trying to gain that all-important first foothold or wishing to explore share farming or joint venture opportunities.
'Joint venture'
“We would urge all potential ‘providers’ and ‘seekers’ to sign up for one of our workshops, when you can learn about the key stages of setting up a joint venture, decide whether it’s an appropriate route for you to consider and above all, meet potential business partners from your area,” said Einir Davies, mentoring and development manager with Menter a Busnes, which delivers Farming Connect on behalf of the Welsh Government.
“The workshops will focus on helping you take stock of your assets and skills and help you identify any particular challenges or opportunities. Expert speakers will explain how Venture can help you find the right match, by identifying the optimum combination of land, people, skills and shared objectives which must be the foundation of all joint ventures.
The workshops will also provide an opportunity to find out more about Farming Connect and the services it provides, before those all important and often life-changing introductions are made and preliminary discussions get underway.
Once you register with Venture and attend a workshop, Farming Connect is able to provide tailored support to both parties through a range of knowledge transfer and training activities, together with confidential advisory and mentoring services, many of which are either fully funded or subsidised by 80%.
Dates and locations
All the autumn workshops will begin at 6:00pm and finish at 9:30pm.
• Tuesday 26 September - Brecon Castle Hotel, Castle Square, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9DB
• Wednesday 27 September - Welshpool Livestock Market, Buttington Cross, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8SR
• Tuesday 3 October - Llety Cynin, Llangynin Road, St Clears, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4JR
• Wednesday 4 October - Feathers Hotel, Alban Square, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA46 0AQ
• Tuesday 10 October - Celtic Royal Hotel, Bangor St, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1AY
• Wednesday 11 October - Ruthin Livestock Market, Parc Glasdir, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1PB
All places must be booked in advance by calling Gwen Davies on 01745 770039 or email gwen.davies@menterabusnes.co.uk
