Rural Enterprise for Beginners

Are you thinking about starting a rural business or developing a farm diversification project? Do you need help with your business model, business plan, route to market, marketing, fundraising and finance? Got an idea but not sure where to start and how to launch?

This one day introductory course will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to take your next enterprising steps.  We will signpost you to further help and resources and you will connect with like minded people. You hear inspiring stories from successful rural business champions and explore the role of sustainability and regenerative thinking in purpose driven business.

This event is suitable for all those interested in building a rural focused or farm based business such as a farm diversification project, a tourism venture, a new food or added value product, a rural service or small scale social enterprise.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to the rural business environment - highlighting some key trends, opportunities and challenges in the sector.
• Make a difference - the importance and benefits of sustainability and regenerative thinking in a purpose driven business.
• Validating your idea - how to use the business model canvas (the 10 minute business plan!) to summarise and validate an enterprise idea.
• One step at a time - moving from ideas and market research stages to test, launch and growth.
• Business types - consider a range of business entities (sole trader, joint ventures, partnership, limited company, community interest company, charity, cooperative etc) and the benefits/negatives of each.
• Business planning - what makes a good business plan.
• Business finance basics - an overview of the financial records you need to keep, and the role of cashflow forecasts, profit and loss accounts and balance sheets.
• Marketing demystified - the 7Ps of marketing and how these relate to your rural business idea.
• Great communication - using websites, social media, newsletters, film and events to tell your story.
• You and your role - who are you in your business, what do you enjoy, what are you good at and how might this change over time?
• Getting support - where to turn to for more information, training, advice and finance (grants, loans and other investment).

Each session will be short and interactive offering insight and core knowledge. This is an introductory course and participants will be supported to work out their next steps. Further deep dive courses will follow to build on this course.

Course facilitators:

Dr David Bozward - David is a serial technology entrepreneur, educator, researcher and authority on international youth entrepreneurship and education with over 20 years entrepreneurial business experience. Over the last ten years he has successfully created and delivered enterprise and entrepreneurship education through a number of government and university organisations. He is former Head of the School of Business at the Royal Agricultural University.

Jonty Brunyee - Jonty is a diversified agroecological farmer and educator, and is the Head of Sustainable Farming and Food Systems at FarmED.   He is passionate about regenerative thinking, rural entrepreneurship and enterprise stacking.  He spent 6 years as a Senior Lecturer and Programme Manager at the Royal Agricultural University teaching farm business management and diversification where he also developed an MSc in Rural Tourism Management.

Ticket prices include refreshments and lunch from the FarmED Kitchen.

Tiered Pricing

Delivery of our mission is a collective effort and our values embrace inclusivity and diversity. We don’t want price to be a barrier to anyone visiting FarmED or attending our events.

FarmED Bursary

If cost is a barrier to you attending, then please do ask us for financial support. The FarmED Bursary offers free or subsidised places to those that will benefit most.

GREAT Farmers

As part of the GREAT project (see www.greatglos.co.uk) we can offer subsidised places to existing and aspiring farmers, growers and advisers in Gloucestershire to the suite of regenerative agriculture and agroecological transition courses at FarmED. To book, please select the Discounted Ticket option below. You will be asked for a few eligibility details including evidence of your involvement in regenerative agriculture and your potential impact in Gloucestershire.

We like to take photos and occasionally videos of our events to use on our website and social media, please let us know if you do not want to be photographed.