Cornwall’s young farmers seek new business skills

Almost 80 office holders in Cornwall’s Young Farmers Clubs are taking part in a new training programme designed to improve leadership and management skills.

Set up by Duchy College, the part-time course will offer the YFC members a Level 2 Institute of Leadership and Management NVQ in Team Leadership. Combined with tailored training within the YFC framework, the Cornwall Federation hopes to provide its members with appropriate skills for both their current YFC positions and the wider work place.

"The idea is to improve motivation, leadership and teamwork within the clubs, as well as equip our club officers with a wide range of business skills," says Kelly Evans, training co-ordinator at the Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

The NVQ programme will be delivered by the Rural Business School, which will provide training, mentoring and assessment in the work place. Funded by Train to Gain, the part-time course lasts one year and can be completed in bite-sized chunks. "As it is modular, delegates can choose appropriate topics relevant to their particular job, and we hope they will go on to take the Level 3 NVQ as a result," says Miss Evans. The course is open to club leaders, chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and treasurers in each of Cornwall’s 20 YFCs.

In addition, the Federation is running in-house training for all members on a county and club level. Topics include health and safety, first aid, leadership and motivation, public relations, chairmanship and delegation, secretarial skills and club finances. These sessions, funded by the European Social Fund’s Convergence programme through Business Forward, will draw on the experience of existing and past club members, as well as industry experts.

"We are thrilled to be providing Cornwall’s YFCs with this training and support," says Chris Shepherd, work-based learning manager at Duchy College. "Their members are the future lifeblood of the farming industry, and it is essential that we invest in their personal and business development knowledge and skills.

"The course will not only strengthen club officers’ management abilities, it will facilitate the sharing of good practice between and within Cornwall’s clubs. Importantly, it will also recognise and accredit the skills development that YFC officer experience undoubtedly provides, which will benefit them both now and in the future."