News
Recent Developments | Grants / Funding | Legislation & Regulations | Our Key Achievements
If you have any news or information please contact Carrie at info@ruralhub.org.uk.
Royal Show 2008 – Special Ticket Offer for Hub Members
If you have a passion for the rural way of life then celebrate the best of British food and farming at the 2008 Royal Show - this summer’s most exciting event.
Taking place from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th July at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, the Show offers a rich and diverse array of displays, superb attractions, informative demonstrations and advice areas on all aspects of farming and country living. From the smallholder area to estate maintenance, Energy and Sustainability Park to the impressive cattle parades, Britain’s top show jumpers to world-renowned hunter classes, you can’t fail to love what’s on at the Royal!
For starters, the Grand Ring programme should not be missed – showcasing the very best of British livestock with amazing equine displays to complement! Then there’s the exclusive countryside shopping parade, rural crafts area, flower and garden show, fine food and drink pavilion and farmers markets. Meanwhile, in the country pursuits and game area, the essence of the British rural scene comes to life. Alongside a variety of displays and demonstrations, visitors can try their hand at shooting, archery, quad-biking and even experience the adrenalin-filled 4x4 off road course.
The Royal Show and Warwickshire Rural Hub are offering members special offers on adult and family tickets. Book an adult ticket for just £11 (saving £7 on the gate price) and a family ticket for £34 (for 2 adults and 2 children aged 5-15, saving £10 on the gate price). To take advantage of this offer book online at www.royalshow.org.uk/tickets or by telephone on 0871 230 5590 by midnight 29th June 2008 quoting reference HUB01 (no online booking fee applies).
Contact: Royal Show 2008
Contact number: 0871 2305590
Website: www.royalshow.org.uk
Food Development Workshops
The Development Kitchen at University College Birmingham has agreed to work with Hub Members in the West Midlands on a range of menu or dish development. Some suggested topics for the workshops are:
Rural Pub Workshop
Sourcing regional produce, cookery and knife skills, making sauces, preparation and cooking of meat, fish, poultry and game dishes with a traditional and authentic theme. Pastry and deserts.
Farm shop Workshop
Sausage making using regional recipes, Pork and game pie using traditional methods. Pates and terrines meat, fish and vegetable. Making soups and sauces for resale. Marinades for meat and poultry.
Bed and Breakfast Workshop
Concentrating on evening meals and deserts that can be pre-prepared for owner operated businesses.
Baking/Yeast Goods Workshop
Bread making including regional bread and pastries.
We would aim to run these workshops in the autumn and there would be a nominal fee charged.
If you are interested in any of these workshops are have a suggestion for any other type of food production workshop then please contact the Hub to discuss further. Once we have ascertained thelevel of interest then we will confirm dates & availability.
Contact: Carrie Robbins
Contact number: 02476 858242
Email: carrie@rase.org.uk
ASDA’s Local Sourcing Hub for the West Midlands Region
“Local sourcing is expanding rapidly”, claims Rob Ward from Green Fields, ASDA's Local Sourcing Hub for the
West Midlands region.
Green Fields are now looking for fresh produce producers to join them in supplying ASDA stores across the region. Their job is to make it as simple as possible for the producer by organising all the ‘easy to understand’ paperwork and by co-ordinating all communications with the retailer. The producer can deliver the produce to Greenfields in Telford, or they can deliver straight to the store themselves.
Over 1.5 million people per week are visiting ASDA stores in the West Midlands region. Each producer is taken on merit and can start with one product to one store if that is what they want.
Key categories urgently needed:
* Fresh produce
* Fresh Meat: beef, lamb, pork, chicken
* Beer
* Dairy
* Chilled ready meals
If you would like to find out more about joining Green Fields in supplying ASDA stores, please contact Julie Link at Green Fields Farm on 01952 603747 or email:Julie@greenfieldsonline.co.uk
Contact: Julie Link
Contact number: 01952 603747
Email: julie@greenfieldsonline.co.uk
Farm Waste Tool
The NFU is working with the environmental guidance website, Netregs, to trial a new electronic training designed to raise farmers' awareness of and compliance with agricultural waste controls. Members areencourage to visit the website, www.netregs.gov.uk/learning and try out the tool. Once using the tool Netregs would appreciate any feedback.
Contact: Netregs
Website: www.netregs.gov.uk/learning
Warwickshire Food & Drink Gastromap
Warwickshire's visitor information website has a Gastromap that includes information on local producers and farm shops as well as details on restaurants, cafes and micro-breweries. Please visit the Gastromap at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/gastromap to see if your information is included. If you would like to add or amend your details please contact:
Contact: Jim Atkinson
Contact number: 01926 412210
Email: jamesatkinson@warwickshire.gov.uk
Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk
The Food Safety Act 1990: a Guide for Food Businesses
The Food Standards Agency is seeking views and comments on the new draft FSA Guidance Notes on the Food Safety Act 1990. Closing date for responses is 11th July 2008.
Full details of the consultation, including the draft guide for food businesses is available on the Food Standards Agency website.
Website: www.food.gov.uk/consultations
The Hub Celebrates its 1,000th Member - October 2007
After the floods, Foot & Mouth Disease outbreaks and Bluetongue at last there is cause for celebration for the rural economy as the Hub reaches the milestone of attracting its 1,000th Hub Member.
The 1,000th Hub member is Jeff Clarke, aged 30, who lives with his wife and daughter on the family farm in Grandborough Fields, Rugby. Woodbine Farm is 400 acres and has been owned by the Clarke family for 50 years.
Jeff has been interested in rare breed animals since his grandmother gave him his first rare breed sheep at 8 years old. when he was looking for something to diversify into this seemed a natural progression. The popularity of his rare breed meat has grown locally and now Jeff & his wife, Anne-Marie, have set up Woodbine Cottage meats as a mail-order business for rare breed red meat from farm reared produce. They hope to supply local restaurants with their meat and have recently opened a farm shop where they sell the meat including homemade sausages and burgers, alongside the homemade pickles and preserves that his mother produces.
Jeff has a small flock of award winning Manx Loaghton sheep and also keeps Dexter Cattle, Tamworth & Saddleback pigs. They have 150 free range hens and rear their own Christmas poultry of Bronze Norfolk double breasted turkeys.
Jeff is an active member of the rural community in Warwickshire and is currently the Chairman of the Manx Society, a member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and FWAG.
Contact: Jeff Clarke
Contact number: 01788 521469
Email: woodbinefarm@ambamail.com
Website: www.woodbinecottagemeats.co.uk
New Qualifications To Help Reduce Accidents And Ill Health On Farms
New health and safety qualifications aimed at people working in farming have been recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) initiative, vocational qualifications (VQs) for health and safety in agriculture are the first such qualifications designed specifically for the farming industry and will pave the way for a new generation of training courses to tackle the industry’s poor health and safety record.
Last year 47 people were killed in farm-related accidents, and many more suffered serious injury or ill health. In the last five years 231 people have died, including nine children under the age of sixteen. The aim of introducing the VQs is to focus attention on health and safety and reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused by accidents on farms. Key to achieving a sustainable change is to increase the level of knowledge, skills and competencies within the industry.
HSE has developed the qualifications with the help of a number of organisations including the National Farmers’ Union and the Transport and General Workers’ Union, awarding bodies for the land-based sector, such as Lantra and National Proficiency Test Council, and the QCA.
“The farming industry’s health and safety record is poor, and these VQs are aimed at anyone working in the industry, from farm workers to supervisors and managers,” explained HSE Inspector Alastair Mitchell. “These qualifications should help improve the education, skills and competences of the workforce and contribute towards making farms safer places to work.”
Qualifications available under the scheme will be pitched at three different levels. The Level 2 Certificate, Working Safely (in Agriculture/Horticulture), is designed for anyone working in the industry or about to join it, the Level 3 Certificate, Controlling Risks to Health and Safety, is aimed at self employed farmers/growers, foreman and supervisors, unit managers, and worker safety representatives, whilst the Level 4 Certificate in Managing Risks to Health and Safety, is for senior managers and owners of large agricultural or horticultural businesses. The Level 2 and 3 Certificates require candidates to complete a multiple choice question paper (with level 3 also requiring a work place based assignment), while at Level 4 the certificate is awarded for successful completion of a short answer exam paper and a workplace based assignment.
Training courses for the health and safety in agriculture VQs have been developed and are available through agricultural colleges and from a national network of training providers. All three programmes will have a strong practical bias, and are geared broadly to mainstream farming and production horticulture. Level 2 has a focus on the identification of farm hazards and typical control measures, and Level 3 requires candidates to undertake risk assessment. At Level 4, management issues such as producing health and safety policies will be covered. At the end of the training period each candidate will be assessed to check that they have reached the required standard before the qualification certificate is awarded.
Contact: HSE InfoLine
Contact number: 0845 345 0055
Website: www.hse.gov.uk/contact
Bluetongue
For the most recent information relating to Bluetongue please visit the Defra website.
To subscribe a a free news alert service from defra please visit www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/alerts/subscribe
Contact: Defra
Website: www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/animal-bluetongue-1018.htm
Avian Influenza Update
It is vital that all bird keepers in the UK continue to practice the highest levels of biosecurity and be vigilant for any signs of disease. All poultry keepers responsible for a premises with 50 or more birds are legally required to register with the GB Poultry Register. Defra strongly encourages those with less than 50 birds to register voluntarily.
There is currently no evidence to suggest widespread disease in the wild bird population, but enhanced surveillance is taking place and poultry keepers in the area are reminded to remian vigilant and report any signs of disease immediately. There is no evidence of disease in domestic birds.
For full details and information please visit the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk or call the Defra Helpline 08459 335577. Bird Keepers can also call the Animal Health recorded information line for the latest updates on 0844 884 4600.
Contact: Defra
Contact number: 08459 335577
Website: www.defra.gov.uk
Free Business Skills and Training Audit
Find out how your business can benefit from training.
Do you need training but can't afford time out frm the business?
Would you like to develop management, communication and customer skills?
Whether you are diversifying into new markets, expanding your existing business or developing the right people with the right skills finding suitable and effective training can be a real challenge.
Rural Hub members can benefit from a free business skills and training audit to identify skills gaps and recommend ways to develop both performance and knowledge through a programme of training and work-based learning.
Wendy Harrison, Rural Hub Steering Group Member says:
"None of us can afford to stagnate, we all need to grasp opportunities to move our businesses forward. One of the ways to do this is to continually educate and develop ourselves and our teams."
There is a wide rangeof training available to meet your business needs:
- team leading for supervisors
- management and leadership development
- hospitality and catering skills
- customer service excellence
- food safety and hygiene
- health, safety and fire
- first aid
For further details please contact:
Contact: Wendy Harrison
Contact number: 02476 302409
Email: wharrison@bubbenhallhouse.freeserve.co.uk
Website: www.bubbenhalhouse.com
LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) 'Speak Out'
LEAF's 'Speak Out@ initiative encourages farmers to improve their communication skills and provide them with the know how to explain 'what they do and why they do it'. For further details please contact LEAF.
Contact: Roly Puzey
Contact number: 024 7641 3911
Email: roly.puzey@leafuk.org
The Olympics - Business Opportunities
The Olympics will bring business opportunities for the region. West Midlands Business Council is coordinating information and working closely with the regional agencies to promote the regions enterprises. WMBC Director, James Watkins, can advise you if you are interested in seeing where your business might be able to grab an opportunity.
Contact: James Watkins
Contact number: 0121 245 0140
Email: j.watkins@wmbusinesscouncil.org.uk
Free Carbon Audit
Natural England's Farm Demonstration Programme working with the Forestry Commission is funding a national project looking at carbon auditing over 200 farming/horticultural businesses across England.
Through this project you will have access to some of the leading scientific advisers and research astabllishments who are involved with tackling the issues of climate change and GHG emissions.
For furtherinformation or if yu would like a free carbon audit of your farm please contact:
Contact: Cheryl Brown
Contact number: 01223 813622
Email: cheryl@laurencegould.com
FREE RASE Membership for Agriculture Students
The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) is offering one year's freee membership to final year students in a demonstration ofit's commitment to support the future of farming. This exciting new initiative will offer students on the final year of an agricultural or related course a variety of benefits to support them through their last year of study.
Contact: Membership Department
Contact number: 024 7685 8303
Email: membership@rase.org.uk
New Product Development Kitchen Facility
Birmingham College of Food Tourism and Creative Studies have announced the launch of a product and recipe development suite for regional food and drink entrepreneurs. The new product development kitchen facility can be used to progress your recipe development ideas and undertake market research into your new product. The BITE (Business Innovations in Taste and Excellence)facility is available to Small and Medium Enterprises based within the West Midlands.
Contact: Mr Don Hacker
Contact number: 0121 243 0141
Email: bitenpd@bcftcs.ac.uk
Website: www.bcftcs.ac.uk
Foot & Mouth Disease
For the latest information including the most recent import and export restrictions regulations please visit the Defra website.
Website: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/latest-situation/index.htm
Access to Nature Grant Scheme
Access to Nature is a £25 million grant scheme to encourage people from all backgrounds to understand, access and enjoy our natural environment. Funded by the BIG Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme and Natural England, the scheme will focus non threebroad themes:
- Community awareness and active participation
- Education, learning and volunteering
- Welcoming, well-managed and wildlife-rich places.
Contact: Peter Loat
Contact number: 01902 693173 or 07769 641550
Email: accesstonature@naturalengland.org.uk
Website: www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature
Bioenergy Capital Grants
A new £4m fund to support the installation of biomass fuelled heating an combined heat and power (CHP) systems was launched in April. Grants areoffered for up to 40% of the difference in cost of installing a biomass boiler, CHP system or anaerobic digester compared with the installation of a fossil fuel alternative.
Website: www.bioenergycapitalgrants.org.uk
Renewable Energy Interest Free Loan from The Carbon Trust
Why run your business on renewable energy?
Switching to a renewable energy source makes sound economic sense for your business.
Installing renewable equipment such as solar heating, a biomass boiler or a ground source heat pump can lower your operating costs. It is also an effective way to cut your carbon emissions.
Another benefit of using renewable energy is that it can improve your reputation as a socially responsible business. And upgrading to new equipment needn’t be expensive.
The Carbon Trust can offer an interest free loan to small or medium sized businesses to help cover the cost. You can borrow from £5,000 to £100,000 – with the repayments based on the savings - you stand to make by using less energy.
Contact number: 0800 0852005
Website: www.carbontrust.co.uk
Redundant Building Grant Scheme - WARWICKSHIRE
Staffordshire County Council is running a Redundant Building Grant Scheme, designed to bring redundant buildinggs back into productive economic use. The scheme was introduced in September last year and covers the rural areas and market towns of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Solihull. The scheme has been very well recieved, with three awards for grant already having been made. The scheme runs until March 2010 with grants of up to 25% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £62,500 up for grabs to successful applicants. For more information please contact:
Contact: The Redundant Building Grant Scheme
Contact number: 01785 277706
Email: rbgscheme@staffordshire.gov.uk
Changes to Environmental Stewardship following approval of the RDPE
Changes to Environmental Stewardship following approval of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
Any Environmental Stewardship agreements offered from 1st January 2007 were offered on a provisional basis pending European Union (EU) approval of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
The EU has now approved the RDPE and this has resulted in a number of changes to Environmental Stewardship, including the removal of Management Plans as eligible options. These options have been removed because the EU Commission was concerned about the need to ensure that agri-environment payments are only made for actions going beyond the legislative baseline (Cross Compliance and Statutory Management Requirements).
Natural England has been contacting those agreement holders who are affected by this to discuss their agreements. Natural England cannot begin to revise agreements until the Programme has been formally approved, i.e. it has been published in the EU Official Journal, which is expected in early 2008. In the interim, there is a Q&A which provides background information on the changes to Environmental Stewardship and this can be found on the Natural England website, www.naturalengland.org.uk
Contact: Natural England
Website: www.naturalengland.org.uk
Animal Transport Certificates of Competence
From 30 April 2008, under the EU Welfare of Animals Order, anyone involved in the commercial transport of farm livestock and horses for economic return on short journeys over 40 miles (65km) and under 8 hours is legally required to hold a Certificate of Competence (Short Journey).
Warwickshire Rural Hub in conjunction with Mid-Warwickshire Training Group offered Hub members the opportunity to sit a written paper-based test resulting the gaining of a Certificate of Competence (Short Journey).
The Lantra Awards Certificate of Competence has two modules that cover the following species:
Module 1
• Cattle
• Sheep
• Horses
• Pigs
• Goats
Module 2
• Birds
The tests for each module were offered at a cost of £35.25 and were be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
If you still need to sit this examination please contact Jill Salt at Mid Warwickshire Training Group direct.
If transporting animals over 65km and for more than eight hours, you will require a Long Journey certificate of competence. Lantra Awards will be able to advise on the test requirements and availability. Please contact Lantra Awards on
02476 419703 or info@lantra-awards.co.uk
Contact: Jill Salt, Mid Warks Training Group
Contact number: 01926 495024
Email: mwtg@supanet.com
Self-Employed Bookkeepers
Any person undertaking bookkeeping, accountancy or payroll services on a self-employed basis needs to be registered under the new Money Laundering Regulations with either H M Revenue and Customs or other appointed Supervisory Body by 1st July 2008. Failure to register and follow the procedures can result in criminal proceedings.
Registration via the Inland Revenue will cost £95. The In stitute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators (IAgSA) are offering applicants a package that includes access to information and services that keep you up to daet with current legislation, together with Money Laundering registration for an additional £15.
Contact: IAgSA
Contact number: 02476 696592
Email: iagsa@iagsa.co.uk
Website: www.iagsa.co.uk
New Regulations – Pre-Treatment of Waste Going to Landfill
New rules came into force from 30 October that are designed to encourage more recycling while reducing the impact of waste that continues to be land filled. These new requirements stem from the landfill Directive and mean that from 30 October non-hazardous waste must now be ‘treated’ before it can be land filled. This will prohibit farmers from delivering untreated waste for landfill disposal. Sorting and segregating of waste materials will count as ’treatment’. Liquid wastes will be banned from landfill. For more information on the pre-treatment requirement visit the Environment Agency website.
Contact: Agency Waste Hotline
Contact number: 0845 603 3113
Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/1745440/444663/landfill/1789720/
Guidance on the status of timber as waste
The Environment Agency has issued new guidance on the status of wood as waste following the work of the joint WRAP/Agency waste protocols group. Virgin timber will not be considered waste, clean non-virgin timber will remain regulated, often through exemptions while treated timber will be regulated as any other waste.
Virgin timber includes:
Wood off-cuts, shavings or sawdust from sawmills and manufacturers dealing in virgin timber, or cuttings and brush from tree felling or other forestry operations.
The work of the Warwickshire Rural Hub and the Rural Forum is putting Warwickshire firmly on the map not only regionally by nationally. The achievements in the last year include:-
- The Hub has had a further increase in membership and has recently signed it’s 1000th Member.
- Launch of Hearty Breakfast – an initiative by B & Bs and restaurants whose owners provide a truly local breakfast from Warwickshire’s farms and small producers.
- Securing of funding for the Resource Efficiency Club – the first such Club
in the country which is run for the sole benefit of farm & rural businesses.
To join or request further information email info@ruralhub.org.uk - The formation of the Midlands Sports Horse Breeding Group whose objective
is “to work together to breed, produce, market and sell top-class sports horses
for the global market and establish a commercially viable UK sports horse
industry”.
To join or request further information email info@ruralhub.org.uk - The establishment of closer links with the other Hubs in the West Midlands and the formation of the regional collaborative group “Rural Hubs – West Midlands”.
- We delivered 31 topical, relevant workshops offering understandable, practical presentations by experts and case study speakers last year that attracted over 900 delegates.
For information about recent and upcoming events see our Events page.