Terms and Conditions - Management Exchange

Successful applicants will be able to undertake visits to other farm or forestry businesses within the EU for a period and/or alternatively will host a suitably trained and experienced farm or forest manager on their holding.

Two way exchanges are encouraged, but a one way exchange is also acceptable.

The exchange programme will fund visits on an individual basis (expenses for more than one person will not be reimbursed)

What can be funded?

The funding rate for the Management Exchange is 100% up to a maximum of £2,500 per exchange.

Costs can be re-claimed for the following:

  • Accommodation (could be used to pay for essential accommodation during the course of long distance travel and also a nominal cost to cover basic accommodation as provided by the host EU farmer for providing accommodation).
  • Long Distance Travel
  • Essential replacement labour required during the exchange period
  • Specialist expertise required during the exchange period
  • Hire of essential specialist equipment or specialist analytical services deemed essential for the exchange period

The above costs can be re-claimed during both the visiting and/or hosting elements. However, in cases of a two way exchange it is expected that accommodation costs are covered in kind by each host.

In all cases, all costs must be explained with full justification at application stage and must not exceed the maximum funding amount available. Farming Connect retain the right to reject funding for individual elements of successful applications if the costs cannot be justified.

If participants need to employ additional labour to enable them to leave the business, up to £200 per week can be claimed to cover this additional cost for a period which does not exceed the duration of the exchange visit.

Total exchange costs must not exceed £2,500. Participants will need to cover all costs leading up to and during the exchange. All eligible costs will be reimbursed upon submission of receipts. 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE TRAVELLING AND SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES GUIDELINES

Which countries can you visit?

Exchanges with countries outside the European Union cannot be funded. Exchanges can be funded with the following EU member states:

AUSTRIA

BELGIUM

BULGARIA

CROATIA

CYPRUS

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

ESTONIAN REPUBLIC

GERMANY

GREECE

FINLAND

FRANCE

REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY

IRELAND

ITALY

LATVIAN REPUBLIC

REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

LUXEMBOURG

MALTA

THE NETHERLANDS

POLAND

PORTUGAL

ROMANIA

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

SLOVENIAN REPUBLIC

SPAIN

SWEDEN

UNITED KINGDOM

Eligibility criteria - who can apply?

The Management Exchange programme is available to eligible farm and forestry businesses registered with Farming Connect. 

These include:

  • Business owners or partners;
  • Immediate family members such as sons, daughters, spouses and/or co-habitants;
  • Paid employees (i.e. individuals on PAYE)
  • New entrants looking to meet the 3ha requirement within a 3 year period

All registered farming businesses will need:

  • 3ha of registered land within Wales
  • a Customer Reference Number (CRN)
  • a Welsh County Parish Holding (CPH) number

All registered forestry businesses will need:

  • 0.5 ha of registered forestry/woodland within Wales
  • a Customer Reference Number (CRN)

Specialist/niche systems or new entrants below the 3 ha threshold will be judged on a case by case basis.

Only one successful application per eligible individual is permitted for the duration of the Farming Connect Knowledge Transfer Programme period. There are no limitations on the number of beneficiaries per business that can apply.

Minimum age of applicants is 18 years on the date of application.

How to apply​

*The application window for the 2022 Management Exchange programme has closed.*

For more information, please contact Heledd Dancer, Development and Mentoring Manager on 01970 600200 or email heledd.dancer@menterabusnes.co.uk

Communications – disseminating key messages

Participants will be expected to provide blogs and/or Facebook/Twitter feeds during their exchange, reporting on their learning experience, links to new businesses or activities they have participated in.

At application stage, applicants will be required to outline how they intend to disseminate their findings.

Within 30 days of returning from the Exchange or by 31 of July, whichever is the soonest, the individual will be expected to produce a report outlining their activities, knowledge gained and outcomes of the visit.

All dissemination will be required to be undertaken through the usual Farming Connect communications channels and events programme.

All exchange reports will be published on the Farming Connect website at www.gov.wales/farmingconnect

COVID-19  

All applicants considering booking trips abroad must think of their own personal and family circumstances and how best they can keep themselves safe if they decide to travel abroad this year. We urge all those who are vulnerable to take extra precautions to stay safe. Guidance for individuals planning on travelling overseas include:

  • Check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website for the specific entry requirements for the country you are travelling to – these include COVID-19 vaccines and testing requirements.
  • Check the coronavirus situation in the country you are travelling to before you travel.
  • Stay safe while you are away by following the same measures which help keep you safe while you are at home.
  • Check and follow the entry requirements for returning home to the UK.
  • Once you return home, consider taking some extra precautions to keep you, your friends and family safe, including taking a lateral flow test before visiting vulnerable family members; space out visits and social events and if you experience coronavirus symptoms, isolate and take a test.
  • Risk assessments will also be required to be completed before any visit and will be provided on date of application approval.