S15 Rural and Land-based Business

Take a whole-business and, where relevant, whole-family view of the client, including how the household, the land and the business affect each other

Establish a clear baseline of the business's position at the outset, using benchmarking against similar businesses where it is available

Help the client set their own goals and plan changes that are practical, affordable and achievable alongside their working patterns, seasons and capacity

Help the client assess diversification opportunities (for example tourism, food and drink, renewable energy, property and new land uses), including how they fit with the core business and their planning, licensing, tenancy and tax implications

Help the client understand and respond to changes in farm and land-use support and regulation

Help the client assess opportunities in markets for environmental goods and services (for example biodiversity net gain, carbon and nature schemes), including the long-term commitments and risks involved

Help the client overcome constraints common in rural areas, including digital connectivity, transport, access to markets, planning, energy supply and recruiting and housing staff

Use peer learning, discussion groups and practical, on-site learning alongside one-to-one support, where these will help the client

Help the client plan for succession early, including involving the next generation and addressing family and ownership issues

Help the client find and access rural, sector and general sources of finance and support, and keep in contact to help them maintain progress

Help the client work with other local businesses and community organisations, including through collaboration, co-operatives and community-owned enterprises

Recognise signs of isolation, stress or financial pressure, and direct the client to specialist rural support

The structure of the rural economy and the range of rural businesses, including farming, forestry, food and drink, tourism, creative and home-based businesses

The particular constraints facing rural businesses (for example connectivity, transport, planning, grid capacity, housing, skills and access to finance) and the support available to address them

The economics of farm and land-based businesses, including enterprise costings, benchmarking, and the effects of seasonality, weather and commodity prices

Farm and land-use support schemes and regulation, how they are changing, and how to keep up to date with them

Diversification options and the planning, licensing, tax, insurance and tenancy issues they raise

Markets for environmental goods and services, and how natural capital can be valued and traded

Land ownership and tenancy arrangements, and how they affect business decisions

Family business dynamics and succession planning in farming and other rural businesses

Effective approaches to rural business support, including peer groups, discussion groups, demonstration and on-farm learning combined with one-to-one support

Community businesses, co-operatives and other models of rural collaboration

Sources of specialist rural support, including rural support charities, land agents and sector bodies