Farm Business Support Programme: Webinar Recordings

Opening Workshop

Webinar 1: Grants and Schemes
Grant windows open and close quickly, and the best applications are the prepared ones. This workshop focuses on how to get your business ready before a scheme launches, including using tools such as Land App to organise mapping and evidence. We cover where to find Defra grants and schemes, how eligibility works, what assessors look for, and how to improve your chances of success. We also discuss when a loan might be the better option, how to assess affordability, and what alternative funding sources may be available for your plans.

Webinar 2: Policy Changes and Compliance  
Rules change, inspections happen, and mistakes can be expensive. This workshop cuts through the noise and focuses on the practical compliance issues that affect day to day farming. We cover key legislation and where farmers often get caught out, including FFRW and SSAFO rules, slurry storage requirements, livestock identification and recording, and waste licensing. We also look at the basics of HASAWA, employment contracts and simple health and safety policies that actually work on farm. We finish with assurance schemes and how to stay audit ready without drowning in paperwork.  

Webinar 3: Technology and Innovation in Farming  
Technology is moving fast, but what is genuinely useful on a working farm? This workshop looks at practical innovation that can save time, improve decisions and reduce cost. We explore where artificial intelligence tools can help, from planning and benchmarking to paperwork and simple decision support. We discuss automation options and how to judge the return on investment, not just the hype. We also cover data and recording, getting the basics right so information is usable, and the real world uses of drones for mapping, monitoring and evidence.

Webinar 4: Farm Succession Planning: Planet (pt 1)  
Succession is not only about people and paperwork, it is also about the land you pass on. This workshop focuses on the “planet” side of succession planning: how to protect and enhance your natural resources while keeping the business viable. We look at sustainability in practical terms, including environmental schemes, habitat and nature reporting, and what ESG expectations can mean for farms. We explore soils, water, air quality, biodiversity and greenhouse gases, and how better management supports long term resilience. We also build on mapping skills using Land App to evidence and plan improvements. 

Webinar 5: Farm Succession Planning: Profit (pt 2)  
Succession needs a business that can stand on its own feet. In this workshop we look at the “profit” side of succession planning, starting with where the business is now: the finances, infrastructure, and the regulatory pressures that shape costs and risk. We then explore where the opportunities may be, including market influence, future markets, diversification options and planning considerations.   Finally, we work through how to build a realistic plan to get there, covering different types of agreements and the role of simple financial models to test ideas before you commit.  

Webinar 6: Farm Succession Planning: People (pt 3)  
Succession is often avoided until it becomes urgent, but the best outcomes come from early, practical conversations. This workshop focuses on the “people” side of succession planning: the business structure, who is involved, and what roles actually exist. We look at identifying the need for a successor, the different types of succession that can work for different families, and the skills the next generation may need to succeed. You will take away practical tips to start the process, reduce friction, and build a plan that is fair, workable and future proof.

Closing Workshop: Strategic Planning for the Future