The training programme, which focuses on business development, is designed to help farm families grow their diversification businesses. Known as the Diversification Challenge Business Start Follow-on Programme, it is delivered in partnership by the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), local consultancy Deirdre Fitzpatrick & Associates and Mallusk Enterprise Park Limited.
The three partners received a Regional Training Award and a prestigious National Training Award under the category of ‘Partnership and Collaboration’, at the regional awards ceremony held in the Culloden Hotel during October. As a result of this success they were invited to represent the North of Ireland at the gala ceremony where 50 National Training Award winners from England, Scotland, Wales and the North of Ireland were celebrated. The event was held in the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London this week and six overall winners of the year were announced.
Congratulating everyone involved in the programme, the Minister said: “The Diversification Challenge provides those in the industry with a unique opportunity to acquire relevant business skills and apply them to develop their businesses. The programme, which is the first of its kind, helps to ensure that farmers can successfully manage an alternative business in addition to their main farm business. It is now recognised as one of the leading training programmes across these islands. The achievement of this award is a testament to the outstanding standard of education we provide across our CAFRE campuses.”
Melanie Humphrey of Mallusk Enterprise Park explains further: “The economy of Northern Ireland has also benefited from CAFRE’s Diversification Challenge Programmes as over 300 diversification businesses are creating full and part-time employment for over 580 people”.
Deirdre Fitzpatrick said. “This programme has been innovative and exceptionally successful. Over 100 farm family members have now gained accreditation from the Institute of Leadership and Management and are now managing successful farm diversification businesses. It is rewarding to have the programme recognised at this level and we are delighted to have won a UK National Training Award”.
Notes to Editors:
- The National Training Awards are designed to celebrate those organisations and individuals which demonstrate outstanding business and personal success through investment in training. By recognising best practice, the awards aim to raise awareness and inspire others to invest in learning and development as a route to becoming world class. UK National Training Awards are awarded to entries that are exemplars of excellence.
- The Diversification Challenge – Business Start Follow-on Programme was developed to meet the needs of farm diversifiers in developing business skills which would allow them to grow their businesses. The programme has been phenomenally successful, with 47% of participating businesses now exporting their product and recording increases in sales of up to 300%.
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