We provide high quality, relevant, cost effective training for agriculture and other land based businesses in south Cambridgeshire, Essex, south Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are a not for profit training provider, with a 30 year track record. We currently have approximately 160 member businesses covering arable, livestock, vegetable and fruit farming, food processing, horticulture, wine production, horse racing industry, grain trading, forestry and arboriculture. Many of our farming members have also diversified into tourism, leisure and other businesses. We have been able to tailor courses to help them establish these new enterprises:-

Case Study 1 – A farming business near Haverhill, originally arable and dairy, and a member of the Group for many years has recently converted a period barn into a high quality conference and wedding venue. Having provided for the training and development needs of the farm staff for many years, we were then able to provide the business, marketing and IT training needs that were required for a successful launch.

Case Study 2 – A large arable and vegetable farm in the fens has invested in a vegetable processing and packing plant. The business has used the Group for training for farm staff for many years, and we are now also providing for their food hygiene and Health and Safety needs, both on the farm and in the factory.

» First Aid

This course is designed for all employees to enable them to deliver Emergency Aid in accordance with St John Ambulance.

Course Duration – 1 day

The course covers the following, assessing situations and taking appropriate action, artificial ventilations and chest compressions, recovery position, spinal injury, clearing obstructed airways, controlling severe bleeding, shock, burns, crush and head injuries, fractures and sprains and other aspects of emergency aid.

» Safe Manual Handling

Many accidents in the workplace are the result of poor handling, resulting in injury, absence from work and compensation claims. We run a course designed to give proper training to help reduce such injuries.

Course Duration – ½ Day

The course covers the following points, job planning to avoid manual handling, posture while working, lifting and lowering, carrying, pulling, pushing, two person operations and how poor working practices can lead to ill health.

» Working At Heights

In 2004/2005 53 people died and nearly 3800 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. The Working at Height Regulations 2005 came into force in April 2005. Employers have a duty to assess the risks, plan and supervise all employees who work at height.

Course Duration – ½ day

The course will cover the following, what the Working at Heights Regulations 2005 covers, employers and employees responsibilities, common causes of falls, selecting the correct equipment and using ladders and step ladders safely.

» Safety Awareness

To provide a basic understanding of hazards and control measures in arable farming and related industries.

Course Duration - ½ day

» Fire Prevention & Control

The course will cover the current prevention standards required by the Fire Authority and your insurers; it will also cover all the fire fighting equipment available and instruction on their use.

Course Duration: ½ day

» Food Hygiene

This is a qualification that is required by all food handlers in Catering, Retail and Manufacturing industries.

Course Duration: 1 Day

The course will cover the following, current legislation, food poisoning, bacteriology, prevention of food contamination, personal hygiene, equipment, pest control, cleaning and disinfection.