Supporting farmers is top of the agenda at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society this Autumn as the charity announces important sponsorship opportunities and events.
The Society will sponsor three scholars to attend the Oxford Farming Conference in 2019, and farmers from across Yorkshire are invited to apply.
The charity is also funding two important events at the Great Yorkshire Showground which will bring the farming community together as well as providing business support and networking opportunities.
Nigel Pulling Chief Executive of the Society, said:
Work continues throughout the year to support farmers and bring the agricultural community together to build a forward-thinking and resilient industry.
The Society runs a Future Farmers group which organises regular events for over 750 members with debates, training, farm tours and supply chain visits.
Now scholarships are on offer for Future Farmers to attend the 2019 Conference ‘World of Opportunity’ (2nd to 4th January) at Oxford University. Applicants are asked to send in their CVs and covering letter by Monday 15th October to futurefarmers@yas.co.uk
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society is also subsidising a training day for farming families who are book keeping for their own businesses. This will see Yorkshire Rural Support Network (YRSN) team up with IAgSA (Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators) to provide the subsidised training day.
Kate Dale from the YRSN said:
In our discussions with farming families, it seems there is a gap in support provision for small family farming business, battling to juggle many balls in the farm office. With big potential changes affecting many farming businesses during and after the Brexit process, it is vital that those responsible for running the farm office feel confident and comfortable with their accounting processes. The person responsible for all farm office functions has very often acquired the role ‘by default’ and may not have had any training (or had training a long time ago) so this course seeks to give reassurance and guidance on their current system and prepare them for forthcoming regulatory changes.
With Making Tax Digital (MTD) on the horizon and Making VAT Digital (MVD) coming into effect in April 2019, there will be a strong focus on this area of change for all farming businesses who are VAT registered with taxable turnover above £85,000. Businesses must be ready for this change in advance of April and preferably before the end of their next financial year.
This will take place at The Regional Agricultural Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate on Wednesday 3rd October between 9.30am and 4.30pm. The cost to delegates will be £25/head and will include a buffet lunch and drinks.
A second event will be the fifth annual Women in Farming Conference held on Tuesday 9th October at Pavilions of Harrogate from 10am to 2.30pm.
The day will include speakers Jennie Palmer of Yorkshire Rapeseed Oils based in Thixendale, Harriet Wilson, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Farming, Fisheries and Forestry at Aldi UK, Maria Boyce from the Planning Team at Savills, Molly Coombs, part of a mother/daughter partnership running Grand get-togethers near Malton and Steph Berkeley, Manager of The Farm Safety Foundation.
Joint sponsors Barclays Agriculture and Savills remain committed to supporting the role of women in farming businesses.
John Pinches, Regional Agriculture Director said:
The Barclays Agriculture Team has well over 2,500 farming clients across the region and we remain committed to supporting this fantastic event which offers a unique opportunity. It brings together an excellent line up of speakers, all of whom are working at the very heart of the farming industry. They will bring passion and enthusiasm as well as a good dose of reality and challenge to delegates.
Elizabeth Nelson from Savills added:
Savills is delighted to support the annual Women in Farming conference again which will be of interest to farming and rural business women shaping their enterprises and ideas from across Yorkshire. It was clear to see from last year’s event that this is a powerful, collaborative forum. This year’s conference promises to be hugely inspirational and empowering with a talented line up of speakers and an invaluable networking opportunity.
The event costs £15/head and buffet lunch is included. To book a place, please contact Kate Dale on E: kated@yas.co.uk or M: 07912 495604
Profits from the commercial businesses across the Showground including Fodder, the Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate are all going towards helping the Society fund these initiatives.
