During March and April 2014, 88 UK growers attended HGCA’s Protecting your Profit business development workshops.

The four workshops, held in Taunton, Cambridge, Lincoln and Tewkesbury, covered a range of topics from grain markets and benchmarking to growing for local markets. Throughout the sessions growers gained expertise in assessing and managing their risks and looking at business profitability.

At each of the workshops the morning’s seminars were followed by smaller breakout sessions, giving the attendees the chance to discuss ideas and gain expert advice from the morning’s speakers.

Richard Laverick, HGCA Head of Regional Development said: “I am really pleased with the popularity of the workshops and the feedback from delegates has been overwhelmingly positive. The format has been really well received with growers appreciating the opportunity to quiz and challenge experts during the small group breakout sessions and to ask questions specific to their own business. This workshop programme is a key component of the HGCA business development activity and we plan to expand the programme next season, building on the comments received from the growers who attended.”

The Protecting your Profit workshops are part of HGCA’s Reaping Rewards business development programme, which aims to strengthen and improve the UK cereals and oilseeds industry through knowledge sharing.

The next HGCA business development events in England and Wales will be opening meetings for the new HGCA Monitor Farms in June and July. Meetings at the Scottish HGCA Monitor Farms will be held in May. All of these meetings are open to all interested growers.

Hgca.com