Rural Partnership Initiative Scoops National Training Award

Rural Partnership Initiative Scoops National Training Award

by CAFRE

28th Oct 2006

A business development programme designed to help rural families set up new business ventures has won a National Training Award.

The Diversification Challenge Business Start Programme is delivered in partnership with local consultancy Deirdre Fitzpatrick & Associates, Mallusk Enterprise Park Limited and the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). The three partner organisations were on hand last night to receive their National Training Award at an awards ceremony held in Belfast City Hall. The award recognises outstanding achievement and success through training and development.

The Diversification Challenge Business Start Programme was devised in response to the background of challenges to farmers, including a decline in income, single farm payments and Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform and the impact of BSE, beef export bans and foot and mouth disease.

John Fay,Director of CAFRE, explains further: "Diversification Challenge provides those in the industry with a unique opportunity to acquire new business skills and apply them to develop their businesses. This diversification training, which is the first of its kind, provides the means for farmers to continue farming and maintain the rural population. Examples of new rural enterprises which participants have embarked upon as a result of this programme include engineering, catering, retail and business services."

“We designed the programme specifically to fit in with farm life. That meant avoiding the light evenings, the calving and lambing seasons and milking times. The programme was run as a series of evening workshops, and each participant had up to 18 hours of one to one mentoring. The programme has increased participants’ self confidence and given them knowledge of all business areas, self presentation and the practicalities of providing a product or service.

We are thrilled to have won a National Training Award and have the programme recognised at this level, because it has been innovative and exceptionally successful. One hundred and forty three farm family members have now gained an Institute of Leadership and Management accreditation and are all running successful farm diversification businesses.”

Melanie Humphrey of Mallusk Enterprise Park continued: “The economy of Northern Ireland has also benefited, as over 140 farm family members can remain in rural locations. They can now ensure a reasonable standard of living for their families and at the same time, pass on the family farm and land to the next generation.”

Congratulating Deirdre Fitzpatrick Associates, Mallusk Enterprise Park Limited and CAFRE on winning a National Training Award for business diversification in the farming sector, Employment and Learning Minister, Maria Eagle MP said:

“I welcome any initiative that improves the prospects of the rural community in Northern Ireland. The emphasis on flexibility built into the partnership’s training programme had a major impact on the success of the training and education of working farmers and their families.”

If you are interested in an attending a National Training Awards information seminar in November,  visit the National Training Awards website for further details.