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Free support to help farmers navigate the Agricultural Transition expanded in the South West

Following the success of earlier phases of the Future Farming Resilience programme, Devon County Council have received DEFRA funding to expand the initiative which will now cover Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly.

The aim is to help farmers, land managers and their families understand the changes and adapt to the gradual phasing out of Basic Payments which will end altogether in 2027. 

The new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS) which replaces it, will encourage farmers to focus on sustainable farming practices, encourage biodiversity and create new habitats for wildlife. The Future Farming Resilience programme will play a vital role in making farmers aware of the government support that will be available to replace these payments.

The support is free and now available until January 2025 to any farmer or land manager currently in receipt of BPS payments located in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, or the Isles of Scilly.

One farmer who has benefited from the Future Farming Resilience programme is South Devon farmer Hannah Reddaway and her family.

There are 4 main areas of support being provided through this programme, which are described in more detail below

  • Information workshops
  • One-to-one support
  • Specialist workshops
  • Digital workshops
 

Transition workshops

These sessions inform farmers, landowners, and their families of the changes in support during the Agricultural Transition.

The changes mainly describe the transition from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) support to payment for public goods and the various supporting grant schemes through the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).

These sessions outline how to handle the reduction of BPS payments, discuss the new grant schemes available through the ELMS, and assess options for the future.

All include refreshments and a free buffet. Dates and locations will be added regularly.

One-to-one support

For information workshop attendees that want to further explore how the proposed changes will affect their unique businesses, business advisors will work with the farm to do a detailed business analysis and calculate the reductions in BPS over 2021-2027 period and the subsequent impact on business profitability.

The business advisor will support the farm to explore the options open to them as the changes affect their business and create a bespoke action plan, these can be carried out in-person or remotely.

Specialist workshops

Themes that are addressed through information workshops and one-to-one support sessions will be further explored in workshops, covering themes such as:

  • Exiting the farming industry
  • Woodland creation
  • Farm/family succession planning
  • Business diversification
  • Productivity actions
  • Environmental schemes
  • Business planning and cashflows
  • Marketing
  • Grant schemes
 

Digital workshops

Digital agency & social enterprise Cosmic will be providing training to improve digital skills, which includes free workshops and one-to-one advice, all featuring training to help build your digital confidence and help support you in running the farm business.

This can include making applications and requesting payments for:

  • Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements.
  • Submitting tax online to HMRC.
  • Promoting a diversified farm using social media, Google, or paid online advertising.
  •  

The sessions are delivered in a no-nonsense, practical, and supportive manner, free of jargon!

These sessions aim to:

  • Help to identify your digital technology needs from the very basics through to advanced skills.
  • Provide training from highly skilled practitioners, who have years of experience, and the proven ability to tackle digital and technology challenges.
  • Support you in a uniquely kind, friendly, and inspiring way.
  • Grow your confidence and trust in technology in a safe and responsible way.
  • Increase your confidence, reduce isolation, and improve digital literacy.
 

Contact details

For full details of the support and to register on any of the workshops please contact Business Information Point

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.