Business management courses

[kfpben]

I’m getting to the stage where I’ve been running the business for a few years and just about feel like I have half an idea of what I’m doing. However I’d like to try and push on and improve.

There’s a few management type courses/schemes out there. The Worshipful Company of Farmers do two I think, one in advanced farm management, the other in rural leadership. There’s the Nuffield Scholarship too. Any others? Not sure if anyone in ag does MBAs? I suspect they are too corporate and too expensive.

Are any worth doing, in a personal sense? Will they give you the skills to improve the business bottom line?

 

[Getnthair]

Yes - to all of your suggestions.

Simple benchmarking will improve your business bottom line but you, probably, know that and have tried?

The WCF courses will give you an insight into how to become a better leader and how to, better, run a business - that much is obvious from the course titles. A Nuffield gives you a chance to study an area of interest - relating to your business or simply following a passion relating to farming.

Above and beyond (- and maybe what you are really looking for? ) is the personal development that comes from the extra training and insight on these courses. There are great benefits from the interaction with other course members too (sometimes a lifetime of connections and friendships) - the more so if they are not farming in your sector and you can appreciate their views. Getting away from the business helps in itself.

Being a better business man will change your outlook and your business - likely for the better.

Doing an MBA will achieve all of the above too. It will take longer, be more intense and more challenging. These aren't drawbacks, it just depends on you.

You won't regret trying to broaden your business skills.

 

[fgc325j]

I’m getting to the stage where I’ve been running the business for a few years and just about feel like I have half an idea of what I’m doing. However I’d like to try and push on and improve.

There’s a few management type courses/schemes out there. The Worshipful Company of Farmers do two I think, one in advanced farm management, the other in rural leadership. There’s the Nuffield Scholarship too. Any others? Not sure if anyone in ag does MBAs? I suspect they are too corporate and too expensive.

Are any worth doing, in a personal sense? Will they give you the skills to improve the business bottom line?

When i was 19-21 i did the old City and Guilds courses on farm Accounts, and then Farm Business management. Both were 1 day a week , and following the school term.
They gave me a better, thorough grounding in the money side of things, and helped to stop "the back of a fag packet/ dud battery in the calculator, or worse, " the subsidy
cheque will bring it into the black" plan.

 

[SteveHants]

I’m getting to the stage where I’ve been running the business for a few years and just about feel like I have half an idea of what I’m doing. However I’d like to try and push on and improve.

There’s a few management type courses/schemes out there. The Worshipful Company of Farmers do two I think, one in advanced farm management, the other in rural leadership. There’s the Nuffield Scholarship too. Any others? Not sure if anyone in ag does MBAs? I suspect they are too corporate and too expensive.

Are any worth doing, in a personal sense? Will they give you the skills to improve the business bottom line?

the Institute of Agricultural Management has lots of events/training/farm walks/discussions etc that may be of use.

 

[upnortheast]

When I was in my 30`s did a farm management course at Kirkley Hall. Think it was an afternoon a week Sept - May.
Wasn`t anywhere the level of WCF & the like but found it an useful addition to my knowledge, - and made some new friends.

 

[nickf]

John Edgar Trust

johnedgartrust.org.uk

This is worth looking at.

 

[robs1]

Are you thinking of a course to learn to farm better or to learn the financial side of the business? Very different things and finding people who have been successful and listening to them is a good place to start, I was once told those who do can those who can't, teach, obviously not always true but advising others is much easier that doing it yourself

 

[onesiedale]

Roots to Resilience | AHDB

The Roots to Resilience programme for beef and lamb farmers

ahdb.org.uk

The four day workshop in November will be a cracking intro to farm/business/strategy management.

 

[Samcowman]

Roots to Resilience | AHDB

The Roots to Resilience programme for beef and lamb farmers

ahdb.org.uk

The four day workshop in November will be a cracking intro to farm/business/strategy management.

Onsiedale beat me to it but this would definitely be worth getting on if possible.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

The WCF ones are excellent but fairly intensive and you need 2 or 3 weeks away.
Make good contacts and we still keep in touch.

 

[mezz]

Matt Boley on the latest Pasturepod podcast talked about the wealth creation course he did. Not sure if it still runs, but it used to be run by Con Hurley, I think.
Have heard of a few people who've done it and they all seem to run top businesses.

 

[Banana Bar]

I did the WCoF advanced farm business management course in 2008. Without doubt the best thing I have ever done to improve our business. It was a full on 3 weeks residential at Wye. I believe it is now a 2 week course.
Still meet once or twice / yr with 10 of the course members and partners, the importance of this part of the course cannot be underestimated.

BB

 

[An Gof]

I have been fortunate and have done both the WCF Leadership course and the Advanced Business Management course.
Both are excellent and will challenge you and develop you.
The Leadership course was invaluable to me in public facing roles but if I had to choose between the two the Advance Business course wins hands down. I was the same intake as @Banana Bar in 2008.
It was a full on intense three week course, the longest period of straight time I had away from the farm and work since college.
In those three weeks I made friends that I am closer to than the four years I had at College.
But the real benefit is the network of contacts you make which can be priceless in terms of bouncing business ideas in future.
They are quite clever in the course make up, we had agricultural bank managers and land agents on our course, a very valuable connection in later life and business.
For me it was the single best course I have ever done.
It was my turn to arrange our annual summer reunion this year. I hope they all enjoyed their time in Cornwall with some inspirational farm visits, fine Cornish cuisine and a hotel view on the waterfront to die for.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Ranching for profit does a school over there I think

@unlacedgecko

 

[onesiedale]

Ranching for profit does a school over there I think

@unlacedgecko

this is the one AHDB are running.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Ranching for profit does a school over there I think

@unlacedgecko

It's this.

Roots to Resilience | AHDB

The Roots to Resilience programme for beef and lamb farmers

ahdb.org.uk

The four day workshop in November will be a cracking intro to farm/business/strategy management.

A barstewardised version for the UK market, run in concert with AHDB.

 

[onesiedale]

"abridged" would be the word.
Dallas Mount is running it and, whilst not the full on 7 day course from US , 4 days covers a hell of a lot of stuff.
As a levy payer it is really good vfm too - you just cover cost of accommodation.

 

[Banana Bar]

I have been fortunate and have done both the WCF Leadership course and the Advanced Business Management course.
Both are excellent and will challenge you and develop you.
The Leadership course was invaluable to me in public facing roles but if I had to choose between the two the Advance Business course wins hands down. I was the same intake as @Banana Bar in 2008.
It was a full on intense three week course, the longest period of straight time I had away from the farm and work since college.
In those three weeks I made friends that I am closer to than the four years I had at College.
But the real benefit is the network of contacts you make which can be priceless in terms of bouncing business ideas in future.
They are quite clever in the course make up, we had agricultural bank managers and land agents on our course, a very valuable connection in later life and business.
For me it was the single best course I have ever done.
It was my turn to arrange our annual summer reunion this year. I hope they all enjoyed their time in Cornwall with some inspirational farm visits, fine Cornish cuisine and a hotel view on the waterfront to die for.

We did!

 

[unlacedgecko]

"abridged" would be the word.
Dallas Mount is running it and, whilst not the full on 7 day course from US , 4 days covers a hell of a lot of stuff.
As a levy payer it is really good vfm too - you just cover cost of accommodation.

Thank you, I couldn't think of the right word. I've had a couple of beers, and you're much more eloquent.

 

[Farmer_England]

When i was 19-21 i did the old City and Guilds courses on farm Accounts, and then Farm Business management. Both were 1 day a week , and following the school term.
They gave me a better, thorough grounding in the money side of things, and helped to stop "the back of a fag packet/ dud battery in the calculator, or worse, " the subsidy
cheque will bring it into the black" plan.

Are these still going ?