Business & leadership courses for farmers and growers

Find out about the professional development programmes for managers and leaders in agriculture and horticulture.

A wide range of organisations offer continuous professional development (CPD) for people wanting to progress through their career to become business directors and leaders. Use the diagram below to understand where you fit, in terms of experience and the time you are able to devote to training, then click on the relevant course to find out more information.

the diagram showing the relevant courses, selecting a course will take you the information on this page

Advanced Agriculture Business Management

Worshipful Company of Farmers

Location	Royal Agricultural University, Gloucestershire
Duration	Three weeks (18 days residential)
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	On application
Topics covered	The focus of the course is on giving delegates the opportunity to review and understand all the internal and external factors that are likely to determine the success of the business they work in. Delegates can then begin to develop plans, and the skill-set required, to grow, add value and/or diversify successfully.
Website	Advanced Agriculture Business Management

Challenge of Rural Leadership

Worshipful Company of Farmers

Location	Duchy College, Cornwall
Duration	Two weeks (13 days residential)
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	On application
Topics covered	The Challenge of Rural Leadership presents the idea of leadership, helps you better understand your own leadership style and how to apply this within your own organisational context. Whether that be, in your own business, a commercial enterprise, a co-operative or some form of representative or industry body.
Website	Challenge of Rural Leadership

Leadership Development Course

Institute of Agricultural Management

Location	One week at Royal Agricultural University, Gloucestershire; one week in Brussels, Belgium; one week in London
Duration	Three weeks
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	£7,500
Topics covered	Personal development; Policy making; Networking and engagement with key sector influences; People management; Risk management; Change management; Media, PR and advertising
Website	Leadership Development Course

Nuffield Scholarship

Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust

Location	International
Duration	Two years of study with no less than eight weeks of travel
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	Bursary
Topics covered	Scholars choose their own research topics of interest in either farming, food, horticulture or rural industries.
Website	Nuffield Scholarship

Women in Leadership

The Farmers Club Charitable Trust awards to the Windsor Leadership Trust

Location	Windsor Castle, Berkshire
Duration	Two days
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	£2,150
Topics covered	This programme is designed to focus on the challenges faced by senior women in leadership roles in particular, the issues surrounding female leaders as they progress through their career. It offers attendees an exclusive environment to reflect on the challenges women face today and a space for them to discuss the reality and adaptability of these.
Website	Women in Leadership

Experienced Leaders

The Farmers Club Charitable Trust awards to the Windsor Leadership Trust

Location	Windsor Castle, Berkshire
Duration	Initial two-day residential followed by part two, six months later
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	£3,850
Topics covered	This programme enables senior executives to become more effective by exploring, with others at a similar level, the responsibilities and challenges of strategic leadership. The participants will form a group of people diverse in terms of sector, gender and ethnic origin.
Website	Experienced Leaders

Developing Leaders

The Farmers Club Charitable Trust awards to the Windsor Leadership Trust

Location	Windsor Castle, Berkshire
Duration	Initial two-day residential followed by part two, six months later
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	£4,395
Topics covered	This programme assists those progressing towards more senior leadership positions to develop their strategic thinking.
Website	Developing Leaders

Emerging Strategic Leaders

The Farmers Club Charitable Trust awards to the Windsor Leadership Trust

Location	Windsor Castle
Duration	Initial five-day residential followed by part two, six months later
Entry requirements	Application / interview process
Cost	£5,755
Topics covered	The Emerging Strategic Leaders Programme is for senior operational leaders who have the potential, ability and ambition to reach strategic leadership positions.
Website	Emerging Strategic Leaders

Young Farmers Leadership Academy

Myerscough College

Location	Myerscough College
Duration	Six modules (two days per module)
Entry requirements	At least five years' experience working within agriculture
Cost	£1,000
Topics covered	Leadership and Management; Human Resource Management; Business Management; Innovation and Supply Chain Management; Business Strategy; Marketing and Social Media
Website	Young Farmers Leadership Academy

Tesco Future Farmer Foundation

Tesco Supermarket

Location	National - multi location
Duration	12 months
Entry requirements	Age 20 - 35
Cost	Free
Topics covered	Five two-day workshops including supply chain visits: Team building and programme introduction; Business planning and finance; Obtaining land, succession planning and sustainability; Marketing and communication skills; Leadership and final presentations
Website	Tesco Future Farmer Foundation

Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership programme

Scottish Enterprise/SAC

Location	Scotland
Duration	13 days between late October and March
Entry requirements	None
Cost	£900
Topics covered	Leadership coaching workshops; One-to-one business focus sessions; Business Strategy workshop; Team working on rural innovation projects; Learning journeys to Edinburgh, Brussels and London parliaments
Website	Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership programme

Rural Leadership Programme

Farming Connect

Location	Wales
Duration	Three sessions and two networking events from July - February
Entry requirements	Must be registered with Farming Connect
Cost
Topics covered	Initiation & Introductions, Royal Welsh Show; Session 1: Laying the foundations, Ceredigion; Session 2: WTO HQ, Geneva, Switzerland; Agri Academy Ceremony, Royal Welsh Winter Fair; Session 3: How to make a difference, Cardiff (including meetings with Welsh Government Ministers and senior civil servants)
Contact	Einir Davies on 01970 636297 or einir.davies@menterabusnes.co.uk

Leadership and People Management

AgriFood Training Partnership

Location	Harper Adams University
Duration	Five days
Entry requirements	Graduate level or experience in food industry
Cost	£1,200
Topics covered	Leadership and management; The human and the workplace; Creating effective teams; Change management
Website	Leadership and People Management

Emerging Leaders Programme

Oxford Farming Conference

Location	Oxford Farming Conference
Duration	One day emerging leaders and two days for OFC
Entry requirements	30 to 45 years of age and actively farming
Cost	You will require a sponsor to cover your costs (approx £600 for conference, plus accomodation and travel)
Topics covered	Emerging Leaders Oxford Farming Conference content/theme
Website	Emerging Leaders Programme

Professional Management Development Scheme

AHDB

Location	England
Duration	12 months
Entry requirements	Those working in agriculture or horticulture who have been promoted into a management role or have been given new staff responsibilities.
Cost	Levy payers £950; Non levy payers £3,950
Topics covered	Working together as a team; Managing workload and solving problems; Leading the team; Developing yourself and your team; Motivating the team; Making communication work; Planning and managing change; Managing performance – making appraisals work; Managing projects; Working efficiently; Influencing skills
Website	Professional Management Development Scheme

Leading and Managing

Lantra

Location	England
Duration	1 day
Entry requirements	If you're actively involved in the management and development of staff then this course is ideal for you.
Cost	On application
Topics covered	Know how to differentiate between leadership and managment Learn how to identify your preferred leadership style and develop an awareness of other styles, and when they might be used to best effect Consider the role of leadership during change Learn to identify the leadership and management capabilities needed to lead, manage and develop people Know how to plan the development of leaders and managers Consider how you can use feedback to improve leadership and management.
Website	Leading and Managing

John Edgar Course

John Edgar Trust

Location	South
Duration	13 days: five-day tutored course at the RAU, Cirencester; four-day project-based case study module based at the RAU, Cirencester; four-day project-based case study module based at a Hampshire Hotel
Entry requirements	None
Cost	£500 contribution (course covered by Trust)
Topics covered	Managing people; Business Practice, taxation and law; Media management; Leadership, personal and organisational
Website	John Edgar Course

Entrepreneurs in Dairying

RABDF

Location	Bridgwater & Taunton, Somerset; SRUC, Scotland; Gelli Aur, South Wales; Myerscough, Lancashire and Llysfasi, North Wales.
Duration	Participants will attend six training sessions at the college including two full days on finance, plus a final two-day session at Stoneleigh
Entry requirements
Cost	£395 +VAT
Topics covered	1. Understanding the Milk Market, delivered by AHDB and hosted at a local processor 2. People Management 3. Tax and Trading Structures 4. Finance (two full days), with Tony Evans from Andersons 5. Business plan and funding your new business 6. Succession Planning & Future Opportunities, with Sian Bushell Associates and Tony Evans from Andersons 7. Final session (two full days) including a farm visit and day session at NFU, Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire.
Website	Entrepreneurs in Dairying