Shepherd losing job , wondering whether to go self employed contract advice wanted

[Keekohibs]

I am about to loose my job , look after 1500 ewes and have been shepherd on farm 5 yrs . Don't have much savings but thinking of going out alone . I want to suggest things to boss about me taking control of sheep ect instead of him selling them now . He is just goin of sheep basically , but shepherding is all I have done , part thinking of goin self employed an seeing if there are grants available to set up as a contract shepherd ect , any sort of help or advice would be much appriciated . Thanks

 

[Yale]

Guys who do contract cattle jobs seem to be busy.

Buy a mobile cattle foot trimming crush,also offer dehorning and castration service.

As farms get bigger with less labour this seems to be a niche.

May need to move to the right area.

Good luck.

 

[Lazy Eric]

Where abouts are you in the U.K.?

 

[capfits]

Dehorning and castration services
Jings if producers cannot do this themselves we are in pure trouble, what next cattle tagging and registration service?
Original OP I would think you would find a job within the industry pretty easily. As for contracting to your present boss, ask yourself why is he moving on the sheep? Is it say low margin, land use changes, disease pressures, after all if you were to contract the work for him what has changed?

 

[Nithsdale]

Know a guy who went out self employed shepherding. He still works part time where he was a shepherd before going self employed. His reason is, it's a guaranteed % of his income every month.

Maybe you could find a neighbour or 2 who could do with 2 or 3 days a week and work between places?

 

[Farfrae]

Where abouts are you in the U.K.?

Hampshire Wilts Dorset according to the post link below but not sure how old that is.

thinking of goin self employed an seeing if there are grants available to set up as a contract shepherd ect , any sort of help or advice would be much appriciated . Thanks

Seems that you already are or were partly doing that?

http://www.stockkeep.co.uk/stockpersons.html

and in 2010

http://forums.countrysmallholding.com/cs/forums/2091878/ShowPost.aspx

No grants that I'm aware of but there are often business start up courses/mentors in different areas that can offer specific local advice.

 

[Keekohibs]

Yes I had a advert on there , did t know it was still on there to be honest !! I am near salisbury Wiltshire , when I first moved down this area I was self employed just doin small flock shearing and working on 2 farms with sheep . Then decided to take a full time position as was offered a house . This is where I am now . I still have the small flock shearing but still need the extra work for other times of the year . Ideally want more of my own sheep and also contract other places and be able to suggest to my boss that he lets me graze the grass on basis but it's how I can get some of the sheep on the basis he would get something out of it , all new to me something any advice would be helpful

 

[ajcc]

sixdogs would be the man to talk to.

 

[Man_in_black]

@CopperBeech @unlacedgecko

 

[Yale]

Dehorning and castration services
Jings if producers cannot do this themselves we are in pure trouble, what next cattle tagging and registration service?
Original OP I would think you would find a job within the industry pretty easily. As for contracting to your present boss, ask yourself why is he moving on the sheep? Is it say low margin, land use changes, disease pressures, after all if you were to contract the work for him what has changed?

You may mock but there's a foot trimmer around here who does very well out of dehorning and castrating,and isn't cheap.

 

[4course]

as farmers get older and have less employees or family labour there is a great demand for that extra pair of hands at certain times . We certainly have here having reduced full time staff , and taking off farm work occassionally means we are often short of a reliable skilled man and it helps both parties as im getting out of as much physical graft as I can,( more to life than work at my age)but due to these fa rules you need some qualifications as well as livestock /tractor skills and then you will be in great demand.good luck, oh and make sure you get some insurance and pay into a pension scheme cos in the future ni govt pension will be worth fa

 

[tepapa]

Plenty of work out there for self employed help but nobody willing to to pay a decent rate for it to be worthwhile.
Plenty will begrudgingly pay £10/hr for 3/4 hours work but you wont get enough hours or work everyday to cover costs and living IMO.
Unless you can get full days at £20/hr you will barely cover costs, pickup, fuel, ins, dog food/vet, let alone pay rent/mortgage or save for a pension.
Ive done it and got out and did something else.

 

[unlacedgecko]

@CopperBeech @unlacedgecko

Thanks for tag.

Contract shepherding is great and all, but need to have a safety net, a fall back option.

Have you got another skill which could be hired out by the day? Relief milking can be a good one.

Failing that, you need to secure 2 or 3 year round contracts which will be enough for you to live on. Then you can look to add in more worm during your quiet times of the year.

As for grants, I've not been able to find any...

 

[tepapa]

You should find help with business start up advice, cashflows business plans etc but you wont get grant on any capital expenditure. It will be classed under agriculture as far as government is concerned and as such you are eligible to SFP as your grant funding. Which is obiously no good to you if you dont have your own land to farm or claim SFP on.