AHDB offers £200 management training course for farmers
© Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock Agricultural workers are being urged to join a subsidised management training scheme to bridge a skills gap on UK farms.
Less than 35% of farmers and growers in the UK receive formal management training, the AHDB said.
However, agricultural businesses may lead and manage a wide variety of people including contractors, advisers and employees.
See also: Advice to help progress your farming career
The levy board’s industry skills development manager Tess Howe said there was a lack of training to increase leadership and management skills – particularly in the livestock sector.
“Often farmers believe that because they don’t employ many people, they don’t manage people,” Ms Howe said.
“But that’s not the case – working with your feed supplier, your vet, your bank or financial adviser, all takes management and leadership skills.”
She added that improving leadership and management skills would help the industry become more productive, with research showing a correlation between business performance and the level of training and education.
AHDB farmer surveys have indicated a demand for an intermediate management training programme aimed at workers with some leadership experience but who were not yet making bigger-picture decisions.
How to apply for a place on the Effective Manager Training Programme
- The Effective Manager Training Programme costs £200 for levy payers
- The course runs over four days, on dates beginning in October 2019 and running until February 2020
- Venues are in Worcester and Peterborough
- To reserve a place contact the AHDB Knowledge Exchange Events Hub on 01904 771218 or email Naiya.khatri@ahdb.org.uk
“That’s why we’ve sponsored the effective manager training programme for levy payers and their staff, who receive a £350 discount on the Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) course,” Ms Howe explained.
The four-day course leads to an internationally recognised qualification, the ILM Level 3 Award, building a foundation of leadership skills which give farmers confidence in managing people.