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Start to Farm conference to gather aspiring UK farming entrepreneurs

Hannah Jackson, The Red Shepherdess, will speak at the event
"It’s an opportunity to bring together those looking to establish their own farming businesses and provide a setting where they can meet other entrepreneurs alongside leading industry professionals"

An exciting new one-day event around innovation, inspiration and practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to start their own farming business will be taking place on 4th June 2019, in the context of the James Hutton Institute-supported NEWBIE project. ‘Start to Farm UK’ aims to bring together the farmers of the future from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to share ideas, best practice and innovation and is open to everyone looking to start a farm business irrespective of their background and age.

The meeting will be held at The Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales, NP18 1HQ between 10.00 – 16.00 and will be a lively and interactive event. The day will comprise of inspirational keynote speakers including Hannah Jackson (The Red Shepherdess and star of Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins), the Budge sisters from the Shetland Islands (recently featured on the BBC’s ‘This Farming Life’) and international guest Cody Wood (a first-generation livestock farmer and entrepreneur) from Oregon, USA. Other sessions and workshops themes will include:

  • Practical financial and legal guidance
  • Overview of ways to access land
  • Exploring joint ventures and different business models
  • Networking opportunities
  • Hands-on workshop sessions
  • Future policy discussions around new farm business and new entrants

The event has been developed together by the UK section of NEWBIE and Farming Connect in Wales, and is supported by Barclays Bank and other farming organisations and professionals.

Dr Adam Calo, a social scientist within the Institute's Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences group and ‘Start to Farm UK’ spokesperson, said: “We are delighted to be offering this new event. It’s an opportunity to bring together those looking to establish their own farming businesses and provide a setting where they can meet other entrepreneurs alongside leading industry professionals. There are many opportunities out there and we want to help people access the right information, support and advice to allow them to start farming.”

Attendance is free of charge; however, limited spaces have been allocated to each of the four UK countries and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served and needs basis. See the event page on the Business Wales website for further details.

Press and media enquiries: 

To book your place or for general enquiries, please contact Del Evans on 01970 600176 or delyth.evans@menterabusnes.co.uk


Printed from /news/start-farm-conference-gather-aspiring-uk-farming-entrepreneurs on 29/03/24 12:53:24 AM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.