Harper teams up with XLVets

Posted 1 October 2010

Harper Adams is delighted to be working with a group of veterinary practices to help deliver practical, farm based training to farmers across the UK.

The FarmSkills courses, which have trained more than 1000 farmers since they began around two years ago, are run by XLVets- a group of 46 independently owned, progressive veterinary practices.

Harper Adams, through the REEDNet initiative, has since joined forces with the practices to accredit the courses, which range from Artificial Insemination (AI) to foot trimming.

Alison Pyatt, Animal Science Lecturer at Harper Adams said: “XLVets are providing exactly the kind of thing that REEDNet champions – training delivered by industry experts to help farmers improve their business performance.

“By working together, we can improve this further by giving delegates quality assured training which they can then take home and implement on their own farms.”

REEDNet is the Rural Employer Engagement Development Network and has government funding through the Higher Education Funding Council for England to support work based training and staff development in the rural economy.

All of the FarmSkills courses are vet-led, delivered on farm and designed to put the farmer first.

Sophie Throup, FarmSkills Manager at XLVets, said: “Although the majority of farmers are happy with practical business benefit courses, some really want that added extra, including assessments.

“We were drawn to Harper Adams because of the quality and reputation that it has in the agricultural sector and are delighted to be working with REEDNet to accredit our courses.

“We’re really proud that our training will continue to be vet-led and delivered on farm in small groups, but it’s the added bonus of having Harper Adams behind us that has made it really special.”

FarmSkills was launched at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show in 2009.