With courses ranging from financial recording and VAT returns to business planning and marketing and from animal health and rodent control to machinery handling – there could well be a training course which could help the way you work or manage your business.
If you are registered with Farming Connect, your next opportunity to apply for up to 80% funding for a short, accredited training course will open at 09.00am Monday 6 March and end at 17.00pm on Friday 31 March 2017.
Farming Connect’s lifelong learning and development programme, delivered by Lantra Wales, is already helping to transform the skills and expertise of individuals working in the industry throughout Wales. Farming Connect is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Kevin Thomas, Director of Lantra Wales said today that targets for various elements of the training programme are already exceeding expectations with approximately 2,500 applications for training having been allocated places on business improvement training courses, which focus on business and management skills development , technical training or training on machinery and equipment use.
He emphasised that application forms for funding can only be submitted online and said that there was a simple process to go through first.
“You must be registered with Farming Connect and have received your individual Farming Connect username and password from the Service Centre before you can access the Welsh Government’s BOSS website and the next essential step before you apply for any training, is to complete an online Personal Development Plan (PDP).
“The application form to apply for 80% funding for any Farming Connect short training courses will be available on the BOSS website during each application window. Almost 2,400 individuals have now completed a PDP and our recent promotional campaign to target students in some of Wales’ agricultural colleges has clearly helped us attract more young participants, which will certainly help professionalise the industry going forward.
“Having a PDP will provide you with a baseline which sets out your current level of knowledge and will assist you with identifying future training needs both short and longer term, ensuring that your continual professional development is recorded and measured,” said Mr. Thomas.
Anyone who requires assistance to complete their PDP can drop into a series of workshops that are set up pan Wales - dates and venues can be accessed via the Farming Connect website at www.gov.wales/farmingconnect
If you plan to apply for funding for completing a machinery and equipment use related course, you will need to complete Farming Connect’s free online Health and Safety course first.
A list of Farming Connect accredited training courses and approved training providers, information about the extended range of fully funded e-learning courses and guidance on completing a Personal Development Plan are all available on the Farming Connect website.
Before you apply for subsidised training, you will need to ask your selected training provider for the cost of the course, as this has to be shown on your application form.
For further information on training and all other Farming Connect services or events, contact your local development officer.