SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) is launching a series of interactive workshops in Cumbria to help farm businesses explore realistic diversification opportunities and make contacts. The first set of workshops take place on 7 December 2011 in Crooklands (11am-2pm) and Cockermouth (6pm-9pm).
Delivered with LEADER* funding through the Rural Skills Cumbria training project, participants will hear from experts from SAC and other organisations with long experience of helping farmers diversify their businesses. Topics to be covered include renewable energy, alternative livestock enterprises, tourism, woodland management, food and drink products and how to write a business plan.
The session will start with an overview from the speakers, then delegates will work in small discussion groups. Following refreshments there will be time for one-to-one question sessions with each of the speakers. Follow-up sessions over the coming months will focus on specific topics, encompassing site visits and guest speakers from local innovative businesses.
SAC’s Programme Co-ordinator Emily Maclean said: ’There is great a great range of diversification opportunities open to Cumbrian farmers. Our free workshops will help farmers explore new opportunities and access information and support that will help them develop their ideas and create comprehensive plans for sustainable businesses.’
The SAC speakers and their topics are:
Paul Mayfield, SAC, Food Marketing Consultant
Business Development, Marketing and Supply Chain advice
Steven Thomson, SAC, Agricultural Economist
General overview of diversification opportunities
Jim Campbell, SAC, Renewable Energy Team Leader
Wind, Hydro, Anaerobic Digestion and solar PV energy opportunities
Neil Harrison, SAC, Senior Consultant
Biomass and wood fired boilers, woodfuel supply chains and cooperative working
Other speakers on the night are:
Edward Mills/Neville Elstone, Cumbria Woodlands
How to make money from your woods: small scale woodland management opportunities
Carl Bendelow, LANDATA Consultants, Tourism Advisor
Selling the attractiveness of the countryside
Sandra Gowling, David Allen, Agricultural & Business Development Specialist
Business start up and development overview