Farming

Fresh Start Academies

Farming new entrants - Fresh Start academies

The Fresh Start Academy is a ground-breaking initiative to help new entrants find openings in the farm industry. It involves three elements: business skills training, mentoring and the possibility of identifying business opportunities via a matchmaking network.

  • courses builds on existing technical knowledge by improving business skills.
  • new entrants are supported by a Business mentor in early stages
  • Land Agents and other professionals support the training programme directly or indirectly
  • courses are reviewed by either the colleges or LANTRA to assess their success
Find your nearest academy

There are currently seventeen academies up and running and eventually it is hoped that there will be academies in every region of England. Farmers Guardian & Farmers Weekly are reporting the rapid growth of the network on a regular basis. To find your nearest academy:

Academy programmes
Courses
Students attend one session every month for a period of 12-18 months. Each academy designs its course based on the needs of members, however, likely topics include:
  • alternative livestock production and non-food crops
  • tenancies
  • business administration, planning and management
  • collaboration and co-operation (EFFP)
  • environmental management and stewardship
  • marketing
  • risk management
Land Agents and other professionals such as surveyors and rural accountants are also involved. They support the training directly or indirectly and can identify possible potential matches between members of the Academy and retiring farmers in the area. Business partnerships can be structured to suit the individual situations and cover any of the following areas: Tenancies, Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Share Farming Agreements, Contract farming agreements, Grazing or cropping licences, Dairy partnerships
What happens at the end of the course?

At the end of the initial 12 meetings, the academy group moves into a quarterly business club structure: to maintain the academy members personal development and continue networking opportunities.

Academy members will be supported in the early stages of their new business via a Business Mentor provided by Business Link. Mentors offer advice on areas such as business planning, financial planning, marketing advice and general business management advice. This service will run for at least the first 12 months of the new business.

As Academies become established, business opportunities are referred by both the network of supporting professionals and other farming businesses to the Fresh Start Academy Co-ordinator, who share these with their own Academy Members and the wider National Network of F.S.A. Co-ordinators.

How much does it cost?
Start your own academy?

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Page last modified: 23 May 2008
Page published: 23 May 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs