AHDB Beef & Lamb is working with the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants (BIAC) to deliver continuous professional development (CPD) to consultants and advisers who want to develop their beef expertise.
One of the priorities in AHDB Beef & Lamb’s ‘Inspiring success’ 2017-2020 strategy is to increase the profitability per hectare of producers who benchmark with AHDB. One of the key ways to deliver this priority is for AHDB to ensure well-trained and experienced consultants and advisers continue to be available to the beef and sheep industry. Each meeting will be held over two days and count as 10 hours of CPD.
The 2015-16 Developing Beef Expertise Programme (DBE) produced a group of 14 trained consultants and advisers who have been used extensively to deliver AHDB Beef & Lamb events, written material and most recently the strategic farms and challenge sheep initiatives. Therefore, it is important those people that apply for the programme are available to deliver independent consultancy once the programme is completed.
Application process
Applications will open on the 1 February 2018 and will close on the 30 March 2018. Click here to download an application form. Once completed, please send it to . Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Applicants will be informed of their success by 16 April 2018.
The programme
The 2018-19 DBE programme aims to recruit a further 16 beef consultants or advisers.
A total of five, two-day meetings will take place over the 12 month programme, covering various topics affecting beef enterprises. These include:
- Current beef market landscape (markets, consumer trends, Brexit)
- Meeting market specification
- Business tools
- Health and antimicrobial resistance
- Nutrition and grassland management
- Breeding and genetics
- Professional skills e.g. communication, facilitation, presentation
The five meetings will be held around the country, ensuring that one meeting is held in each of the five regions of England.
Planned meetings
| Meeting Number | Date | Place |
| 1 | 13-14 June 2018 | North West |
| 2 | 19-20 September 2018 | South West |
| 3 | 5-6 December 2018* | North East |
| 4 | 6-7 March 2019* | South East |
| 5 | 29-30 May 2019* | Midlands |
*exact dates may change
Cost
It is expected that each successful applicant contributes £100 per meeting to the cost of running the programme. Once the applicant has learnt of their success, they will be asked to pay £300 to cover the cost of the first three meetings. After the first three meetings there will be a break clause whereby those who wish to continue with the programme, for a further two meetings, will be required to pay a further £200. This ensures that each delegate values the training and continuous professional development they receive throughout the programme.
Each delegate will also be expected to pay for their own bed and breakfast costs. AHDB will cover all other costs for running the programme, including meals (excluding breakfast), speakers and room hire.
2016 Developing beef expertise members
