Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs - board ready training: survey report

Highlights

Why was the research needed?

In their final report, the Women in Agriculture Taskforce (2019) recommended that training should be provided to women and new entrants in agriculture to address the skills gap they face and build their business skills and confidence.

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) is a membership organisation for young people who live and work in rural Scotland. Its national board has responsibility for the organisation, its reputation and finances. There are around 14 people on the board each year and membership changes yearly. This research was requested by the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs to find out what training would benefit new board members and inform the development of a tailored board training programme. It was also felt that behavioural and cultural changes were required to make the organisation more inclusive.

What did we do?

The purpose of the research was to understand the training needs of Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs board members. In August 2022, we carried out an online survey of current and previous board members about the training they have received, and the types of training they felt would have helped them in their role. A 64% response rate was achieved from a sample of 28 people. The survey received a total of 18 responses (it is important to note the small sample size).

The survey focused on a range of topics, including their motivations for becoming a board member, their confidence and level of experience before joining the board, and the kinds of training they would like to receive in the future.

What did we learn?

We learned that young people on the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs board are passionate about the organisation, and their role within it. The majority of current and previous board members who completed the survey felt clear about their role before joining the board, but welcomed the idea of further training.

Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs board members rated the training they have received highly. Survey respondents highlighted the usefulness of mentoring and would like to receive more of this type of support. Areas of concern highlighted by respondents included a lack of experience before joining the board, clarity over the role and managing their board role alongside other commitments.

Next steps

The research findings will inform the creation of a tailored training programme for current and future Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs board members.