H&H Group Plc funds Cumbria University course which will deliver practical training in diversification, sustainability and financial resilience.

In collaboration with the University of Cumbria, H&H Group Plc has announced it will fund 12 fully funded places on a Farm Business Opportunities short course, delivered and designed specifically for upland farming businesses, the programme will be delivered through the University's Institute of Science and Environment. This course follows the success of previous Upland Environmental Land Management (ELM) short courses which were also supported by H&H.

Open to farmers in Cumbria, Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire, this part-time course, begins on Monday 25^th May 2026 and runs for four weeks. The programme has been specifically developed to help farmers, land managers and rural advisors future-proof their businesses through practical skills in diversification, sustainable land management and financial planning.

Mark Johnson, COO H&H Group Plc said, "We are proud to support this Farm Business Opportunities course in collaboration with the University of Cumbria. As a business rooted in the rural economy, we recognise that the long-term success of the agricultural sector depends on equipping farmers with the skills and confidence to adapt. Given the current climate and the reopening of SFI, this is a timely and relevant initiative. In supporting these courses, we are investing directly in the resilience, sustainability and future profitability of upland farm businesses."

The £550 fee per participant is fully funded by H&H, with 12 places available. The flexible programme allows participants to study alongside their professional commitments and the course combines classroom learning, online sessions, and on-site farm visits, including one regenerative farm and one traditional sheep farm that has diversified. 

Participants will explore diversification strategies through real farm case studies, gaining insight into enterprise performance, funding for public goods and the financial implications of entering Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes.

Throughout the course, participants will:

• Develop a baseline financial analysis of an upland farm business
• Assess diversification and regenerative farming opportunities
• Build practical knowledge of funding streams and ELM schemes
• Strengthen budgeting and scenario-modelling skills to support decision-making

Key business planning principles, including cost control, profit analysis and the financial considerations of adopting environmental schemes will also be covered.

In giving further detail, Kev Bevan on behalf of the University of Cumbria, said, "The end of the Basic Payment Scheme is a real threat to farm incomes, but I've seen firsthand that there are practical ways to respond. On this short course, we take you off your own holding and onto farms that are already finding real world answers, whether that's getting more from your livestock system, diversifying, or being paid for what you already do (and can do) for the environment. With SFI26 opening in June, the timing couldn't be better. Drawing on my 40 years' experience, the aim is to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to navigate this challenging new landscape."

To apply for the course no formal entry requirements are necessary and anyone interested should visit https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/study/courses/cpd-and-short-courses/farm-business-opportunities-/  and complete the application form. For further details they can also contact course co-ordinator Owen Morgan: owen.morgan@cumbria.ac.uk or 07301 011446.