23 January 2018
Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, today (Tuesday, 23 January) officially launched Farming Connect’s prestigious personal development programme, the Agri Academy 2018, at the Farmers’ Union of Wales annual farmhouse breakfast at the Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay.
The Agri Academy, now approaching its sixth year and with 165 alumni, brings together some of the most promising people making their way in the agricultural industry today.
Regularly quoted by past candidates as ‘life changing’ this unique programme which takes place over three short, action-packed study periods and overseas visits, gives individuals selected the inspiration, confidence, skills and networks they need to become future rural leaders, professional business people and entrepreneurs. The application window for this year’s programme, will be open from Tuesday 23 January to Friday, 30 March 2018.
Comprising three distinct elements, the Agri Academy’s Rural Leadership programme, a collaboration with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, aims to develop and nurture a new generation of leaders and individuals keen to influence the rural agenda at a local, regional and European level. The programme provides an opportunity to meet and lobby Welsh Government and EU figureheads in Wales and Brussels and to learn the skills of effective public speaking and media interviews.
The Business and Innovation programme offers personal and business development which can help candidates meet the challenges of farming in the future, as they network and learn from top industry experts and business leaders at home and during an overseas study visit.
The Junior Academy, which is run in partnership with Wales YFC, is targeted at young people aged 16-19 considering a career in the food and farming industries. For many it provides focus and guidance at a time when many are uncertain about their future career pathways and a prestigious, relevant notch on their cv.
Speaking at the launch, the Cabinet Secretary said
“The Agri Academy’s format of three short but intensive study periods has a proven track record of paving the way to business success for so many of its alumni.
“Farming Connect’s unique personal development programme of training, mentoring, support and guidance gives both young entrants with ambitious aspirations and more experienced individuals a fantastic opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other in a success-driven, supportive environment.
“There are no barriers for eligible individuals wanting to apply for the Agri Academy and there are no limits to what you can achieve if you put your mind to it.
“The Agri Academy has been a hugely valuable stepping stone, which has inspired so many individuals, giving them confidence and necessary networks to plan for their future as successful rural leaders, professional business people and innovative farmers.”
Einir Davies, development and mentoring manager with Menter a Busnes, which delivers Farming Connect on behalf of the Welsh Government, says that the 2018 programme promises exciting opportunities.
“Candidates selected for the Business & Innovation Programme will visit Iceland, a country renowned for its innovative approach to environmental management, renewable energy and sustainable farming methods.
“Iceland has a similar topography to Wales with its combination of lowland, upland and coastal farms and it is self-sufficient in meat, eggs and milk,” said Ms Davies.
Rural Leadership Programme candidates will meet figureheads and policy leaders from the Welsh Government and visit the European Parliament in Brussels.
For further information, eligibility criteria and to download application forms, please click here.
Jim Ellis - Business & Innovation Programme
Jim Ellis (23) helps his father run the family beef and sheep farm on the Llyn Pensinsula. He says that being awarded a place on the Business & Innovation Programme has been an inspirational experience.
“The new networks and friends I’ve made, together with mentoring and guidance from experts, has been fantastic. I’ve met so many inspirational business people, who have given me a new sense of focus which I plan to put into practice both on the farm and in some of my other business enterprises.”
After attending Coleg Menai, Jim won a place at the prestigious Entrepreneurship Academy in Swansea, which also awarded him funding towards setting up a new photography business. Having developed that business further, together with a business partner, he now runs a successful company specialising in video and drone photography for businesses in North Wales, alongside his duties on the farm. And there’s yet another new business venture in the pipeline for Jim, who has now joined forces with another young Business & Innovation candidate, Gareth Thomas who farms near Cemaes Bay.
“We are both young, ambitious and keen to make our money in new markets, so we’ve set up a new joint business venture and hope to launch a new healthy energy drink.”
Jim says that he had to be persuaded to apply for the Agri Academy by his local Farming Connect development officer.
“I assumed that everyone else would have been to agriculture college and the focus would be mainly technical, so I didn’t think it would be for me! In fact, as the name implies, the focus was on business and on innovation – the two areas that really interest me both as a farmer and an entrepreneur!
“Although having returned home, I am now very involved with farming at grass roots level, I’m keen to bring my entrepreneurial skills to everything I do, so hearing how other farm businesses are achieving better efficiency and profits by benchmarking and getting costs down has inspired me to do things differently.
“The study visit to Switzerland was amazing, and every minute of every day provided a new learning opportunity. It was so relevant to speak to farmers operating outside the EU, and realise that despite having autonomy, they are still constrained by European rules, as it would disadvantage them not to.
“It’s concerning to consider that the Swiss opted for a relationship where they are engaged but not married to the EU, whereas in the UK we seem to be heading for a divorce!”
Teleri Fielden - Rural Leadership Programme
Teleri Fielden (27) the latest National Trust / YFC Llyndy Isaf scholar, was selected for the 2017 Rural Leadership Programme. Teleri says farming skipped a generation in her family, but explains that her grandfather, who farms in Meifod, says she first made her intention to be a ‘lady farmer’ clear to the whole family aged four. She has spent all her holidays helping on his farm ever since!
Teleri, who grew up in Wrexham, read geography at Aberystwyth University, adding on modules in agriculture, the environment, sustainability and politics, which has sustained her interest in all things agricultural. After graduating, she flew to California for four months of voluntary work with a food policy council. Then it was back to Wales, where despite feeling lost in a sea of graduates and friends all desperate to find jobs, she soon landed a food development post with Menter a Busnes. For three years, she honed her skills on marketing and enjoyed the role of promoting Welsh produce. However, keen to broaden her horizons, Teleri moved to Chamonix to work at a ski resort and learn the language.
“I loved learning French and the continental way of life, but I missed hands-on farming, so when the ski season ended, I joined a French research farm, signing up for a diploma course in agriculture,” says Teleri who also helped train and race the farm’s racehorses for endurance challenges.
While in France, Teleri was offered the opportunity to share farm, but by then she felt ready to come home to her Welsh roots. She was appointed to the role of marketing and membership officer with the FUW in Aberystwyth, learning more practical skills in any free time by helping out at neighbouring farms. It was her FUW colleagues who last year persuaded her to try and add yet another line to her already impressive cv by applying for the Rural Leadership Programme.
“Having come back to a post in Wales, it just seemed the right time to progress a bit more and meet other like-minded people with similar ambitions and goals, which is another reason I applied for the National Trust/YFC scholarship.”
Teleri found the Rural Leadership Brussels trip inspirational.
“It was empowering to realise that the issues we discuss at home within our farming unions and our young farmers clubs can influence policy decisions in the future.
“All EU farmers are operating in a politically uncertain climate, so it’s critical that we do all we can to prepare for the future by running profitable, sustainable, modern businesses.
“As Agri Academy alumni, we’ve now had the training and support we need to ensure we speak up for what we believe in. I know we will contribute to intelligent, balanced conversations with each other, with our rural communities and with the policy leaders tasked with deciding our future.”
Teleri’s newest networks are in Snowdonia thanks to her role at Llyndy Isaf and she’s determined to get involved as much as her time permits until the scholarship ends later this year.
“I am certain the class of 2017 will stay in touch and stay focused – we can achieve so much by supporting each other and utilising our new skills and networks. It’s up to us to make sure our voices are heard, by whatever means necessary, including social media debate, to help ensure the prosperity of our industry.”
Morley Jones - Junior Programme
The last twelve months have been pretty intensive for Morley Jones (17) who lives at home on the family’s beef and sheep farm in Sennybridge, but there’s no sign of the pace slowing down any time soon! Not only was Morley selected to join the Agri Academy Junior Programme, he also won one of the highly coveted summer school places at the Royal Veterinary College. He says both these experiences have given him a new depth and breadth of knowledge as well as valuable new networks.
Morley, who has set his sights on being a vet in rural Wales, is currently studying for A levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate at Ysgol Gymraeg in Ystalyfera, but he is also hoping he can combine his future veterinary career and interest in the health of beef cattle with his liking for politics and public speaking. In between academic commitments and helping out at home, Morley is a keen member of Sennybridge YFC.
“Farmers are facing an uncertain future as we head towards leaving the EU, but now is the time for young people to focus their drive and ambition for the good of the industry, and to try and find ways of contributing effectively to our rural economy.”
Morley says that in addition to being inspired by the many mentors and farmers he met through the programme, he is particularly grateful to have been offered work experience within the Welsh Government’s chief veterinary office this spring.
“Proven work experience is one of the most valuable elements on any cv, so I’m very grateful and looking forward to that. Being part of the Junior Academy has helped me appreciate how important it is to widen your network, to listen to new ideas and to have a platform for voicing your own opinions, especially at that critical time when you’re just starting to make plans for the future.
“Our study visit to Ireland was awe-inspiring. It blew my mind to see the scale of what is one of Ireland’s biggest agricultural research stations. So much can be achieved when the Government and industry work together in harmony.”
“I appreciate that throughout the UK, farmers have to compete for government support and resources against many other industries, but in Ireland, agriculture is the priority.
“The Irish farmers and suppliers we met were proof that by working closely with government, the retailers wanted to sell quality Irish produce and their customers wanted to buy it.
“With that attitude, and by educating everyone in the supply chain as well as the public, we can all develop our businesses and prioritise on being the most modern, most profitable quality food producers in the western world.”
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