The 69th Worshipful Company of Farmers (ACABM) course

20 Dec 2019

The 69th Worshipful Company of Farmers (ACABM) course at the RAU successfully draws to a close.

Delivered at the RAU annually each November, this year eighteen delegates from the UK were joined by one delegate from Ukraine/Netherlands. Through seminars, group discussions and case studies, the delegates were given the opportunity to further their knowledge in all elements of farm business management and, through peer debate, share their varied experience and expertise.

In addition the delegates enjoyed visits to Thatchers Cider, Lye Cross Farm Cheesemakers and an evening spent at the heart of Gloucester Rugby, Kingsholm, watching a lively match between Gloucester and Toulouse. Professor Louise Manning (RAU), who joins Keith Barriball as a Course Director, also hosted a lunch and a tour of her family farm in Herefordshire. For the first time the delegates were guests of Farm491 (the RAU’s agritech incubator and accelerator) for a day at the John Alliston Centre with sessions delivered by Luke Halsey, Head of Farm491 & Programme Manager on New Business Funding and Entrepreneurship, and, fresh from Brussels, Professor Allan Buckwell, (WCF) on Agricultural Policy in the new Post-Brexit Net Zero Carbon era.

The delegates made the most of the range of learning and development activities over the three weeks which then informed their reflection on the opportunities ahead for their own businesses.

ACABM19 delegate Holly Smallman said: "I wish I had done this course 10 years ago! I have clearly had more management training in the past than I realised... The course add brilliantly to previous knowledge, and encapsulated so much more. I now feel in a better place to start my next phase of life, both personally and professionally. Bravo ACABM!"