ASPIRING dairy farmers have demonstrated their confidence in the sector, having successfully completed the inaugural Entrepreneurs in Dairying business training programme.

The programme, which was completed by 34 people, is designed to offer specialist instruction accompanied by a unique mentoring scheme for those who wish to progress their careers and develop their own farming business.

It was launched and is managed by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers in collaboration with DairyCo, the NFU and The Andersons Centre.

Staged at Bridgwater College’s Cannington Centre, the programme has covered a wide variety of topics during eight weekly sessions, from understanding world markets to succession planning, and better business and financial management.

In the latter part of the programme, each student was offered the unique opportunity to be matched with a mentor for 12 months.

Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) policy director, Tim Brigstocke said: “We are really pleased to find that the inaugural Entrepreneurs in Dairying has met with such enthusiastic demand, even in times when industry is feeling very hard pressed.”

“These youngsters who are all keen to progress up the ladder, have demonstrated that real thirst for training in specialist areas such as how to farm in their own right through joint ventures or contracting arrangements and how to run a business.”