28 November 2024
It has been a remarkable trajectory for farmer Cheryl Reeves in the six years since she utilised Farming Connect’s Agrisgôp programme to first explore the seed of her farm business diversification idea.
That business, the community interest company (CIC), Agri-cation, which she runs with her husband, Andrew, at their farm at Bangor on Dee, has been successfully operating for four years and has now won a major award.
As she reflects on that journey, Cheryl credits Agrisgôp as an important springboard to helping her bring her business idea to life.
“It really did develop that thought process,’’ she says.
Cheryl was one of eight members in the group, run through Farming Connect by Gwen Davies, a grape farmer in the Vale of Clwyd.
It focussed on farm and countryside education, helping Cheryl gain knowledge, technical and business skills, and the confidence to develop not only the business but as an individual too.
“We visited other businesses and it gave me a really good insight into what I needed to consider, from the health and safety policies you need when open your farm to the public to company directorship, and everything in between,’’ she recalls.
Agri-cation, which is based on the Reeves’ farm, Woodcroft, where they rear 300 calves a year, is an education provider that combines agriculture and education to equip people with essential life skills and qualifications that can open the door to employment opportunities for them.
This concept bridges the gap between people seeking work and the world of agriculture, connecting them with the land, the environment, and a range of valuable life lessons, says Cheryl, who employs two part-time staff, Emma Lee and Isaac Goodwin.
“Our clients come to the farm and help with the farm tasks, what we do on a daily basis, learning as they go along, taking on responsibility and gaining in confidence.
“I think it also helps that I am a woman in farming, they perhaps want to give that little bit extra because of that.’’
As well as working with support and school groups and charities, Agri-cation also partners with the Department of Work and Pensions to develop bespoke programs that help individuals transition back into the workforce.
Its outreach extends to Berwyn Prison too, engaging with inmates with farming backgrounds or interests and providing opportunities for reintegration.
Agri-cation has now received national recognition by winning the Diversification Business of the Year award in the Small/Medium category at the British Farming Awards 2024.
“I was delighted to be on the shortlist of five and just couldn’t believe it when the winner’s name was announced and it was us, you never expect your name to be called out,’’ says Cheryl.
“But without support from my husband this diversification wouldn't have been as successful."
Looking forward, she plans to explore further growth by targeting the corporate sector; the farm’s location, just five miles from one of the UK’s biggest industrial parks, ideally places it for partnering with industry.
Cheryl is a Farming Connect Mentor and she too has benefited from the mentoring programme, as she was developing her business and as it became established.
Agrisgôp, she adds, enabled her to have an open discussion with like-minded people, all helping each other to develop business strategies.
“It has created long lasting relationships with individuals that attended the group sessions and this has been absolutely invaluable to the growth of our business.’’
She also seized opportunities to gain skills and training through Farming Connect with courses that were 80% funded.
“I completed five courses in business management with Julie Thomas at Simply the Best and also undertook some leadership courses, all of those were really important.’’
Cheryl has also been a previous winner of the Lantra Wales ‘Learner of the Year’ award.
For Cheryl, another important aspect of being a part of Agrisgôp was the networking opportunities it provided.
Among the people she met on the way, and who inspired her to move forward with her plans, were dairy farmer Abi Reader, now deputy president of NFU Cymru, and the people driving businesses including Treflach Farm, at Oswestry, Rhug Estate, Corwen, and Clynfyw Care Farm in Pembrokeshire.
Cheryl urged others to seize the opportunities that are available through Agrisgôp, a fully-funded management development programme that encourages eligible farmers and growers to get together to not only develop their businesses, but to personally gain confidence and skills through action learning.
“It is definitely worth having a go. For me the networking has been the best way to progress me personally and my business.’’