Rural Skills Courses

The John Oldacre Rural Innovation Centre (JORIC) was officially opened by Professor Sir John Beddington in March 2014, following a £1.2 million investment by the University and the Frank Parkinson Trust.

Based at Harnhill Manor Farm, the centre encompasses teaching, training and event rooms, a laboratory research workshop, a machinery workshop, a demonstration hall and has extensive external training capacity.

The JORIC is a multi-functional facility offering rural skills training to both RAU students and external clients. Courses on offer cover: arboriculture, crops and pesticides, estate maintenance, health and safety, livestock, machinery, pest control, vehicles and workshop practices.

All courses carry accreditations from awarding bodies such as: LANTRA and NPTC City & Guilds. Courses are delivered to organisations ranging from public bodies to large and small land-based and agricultural businesses and individuals seeking to build skills and expertise. The John Oldacre Rural Innovation Centre plays a key role in encouraging individuals and communities to adopt an entrepreneurial attitude towards attaining business success, personal development and community growth.