Women in agriculture business skills training - focus groups: final report

Annex B: Knowing Your Business - Overview

Knowing your Business – Overview

This course has been developed to provide an opportunity for women (aged 16 years and over) who are already confident at doing the finances to now drill further into the business. It will look at: Key Performance Indicators, profitability and sustainability, opportunities for diversification, forward business planning and succession.

This course should equip women with the knowledge, understanding and skills to:

• Assess the profitability and sustainability of their farm, croft or small-holding, taking a fresh look at inputs and outputs
• Understand the environmental impacts of their business on both climate change and biodiversity and the benefits of adopting more sustainable practices
• Create a successful business plan to future-proof their farm, croft or small holding, including a long-term succession plan
• Apply for grants, funding or loans which will enable them to develop their business plan accordingly
• Raise, discuss and negotiate issues around finance, business planning and succession within a family farming enterprise. Be proactive at attending meetings with lawyers/accountants.
• Develop and implement ideas for diversification or expansion of a farm, croft or small holding business
• Develop collaborative working relationships where possible with other businesses e.g. developing local supply networks or encouraging opportunities for local traders' associations, community enterprises or co-operatives. Attend industry meetings (NFU, monitor farm visits, join committees)
• Connect effectively with wholesalers and consumers, through marketing and communications skills - especially online / digital platforms.
• Create a network for women in agriculture to share information, business knowledge and offer support to each other.
• Create greater economic resilience within individual businesses and the agricultural industry as a whole.

Proposed delivery:

This course is expected to be delivered to five groups of around 15 women through one 2 hour online session per week (day, evening or weekend) and self-study over approximately 8 weeks. The course may involve a mix of delivery methods, including for example: live webinars; virtual workshops with individual and group activities; discussion groups; online self-study modules and preparation for sessions.