Towards the end of 2013 the NFU ran a Farming Ambassadors training programme across four of its regions.
Here, a couple of candidates outline the benefits they have seen since the training sessions.
The course consisted of media training, negotiation and chairmanship training with the final day seeing successful applicants put through their paces on presentation skills. The three, six hour long days provided the trainees with an opportunity to gain new skills and experience and develop themselves in key areas; learning how to communicate more effectively both in front of an audience and through television and radio and gaining the skills to direct a meeting and how to reach a conclusion in negotiation.
Six months on from the course, the candidates have now been able to put the skills and training they have gained to benefit them personally, in their business and across the industry.
East Midlands livestock farmer Phil Abbot has been one of those who has benefited from the course. “The course has really given me added confidence and since completing the course I have successfully applied to be on the EBLEX board. Representing the industry through EBLEX and NFU will help me make a difference and contribute to the industry, and with the skills I learned through the media training and presentation elements of the course will help me get my message and points across to make more of an impact” He added that “ I want to make a difference to the industry and remain passionate and enthusiastic about representing the industry, but the course has also provided me with more confidence in being proactive and talking about the industry and my business. I have certainly noticed a difference in the six months since I attended the course and will continue to use the skills gained to benefit me personally as well as across the industry.
East Yorkshire brewer and predominantly arable producer Jonathan Hodgson agrees. “The training really opened my eyes and I have already used a lot of what I have learned in the six months since completing the course. I am now chair of the local NFU branch and have put to use the chairmanship skills in organising meetings and holding briefing sessions. Historically the industry has not been great at getting out there and talking to people about what we do and why we do it” he said. “However since the course I have been a lot more confident about getting out there and talking to people about the industry and our business. I am now looking to start a using social media more and starting a blog about the business to connect more with the public about our farm. I really enjoyed the media training element and felt we were taken out of our comfort zone during this session. This has given me a great insight into the role of the media and has really helped me prepare for media work and giving me greater confidence during TV and radio interviews in the time following the course.
Both agreed that they would recommend the course to other people in the future. Phil added that “I found the course of great value and have kept in touch with others on the course since the training. I am sure we have all benefited from the course over the past six months in different ways and would definitely recommend it to others in the future. It has certainly given me greater confidence and inspired me to be more involved in representing the industry and to and make a difference”
The Farming Ambassadors course was supported by the Rural Development Programme for England through an ADAS run training programme, which provided funds for the trainers involved. The NFU hope to repeat the programme later in the year so watch out for news of the application window.