A TMAF bursary supported Jason Cantrill of Ceres Rural to attend the 74th Worshipful Company of Farmers Rural Business Management Course in Gloucestershire.
TMAF Bursary recipient
I’m a partner in Ceres Rural having been one of nine founding partners in 2021 and run the Norwich office on a day-to-day basis managing a team of six professionals. Since gaining my professional qualifications in 2008 and 2009, my career as a chartered surveyor and farm consultant has expanded to a wider client basis spread across East Anglia including managing farming businesses, sitting on management boards and undertaking expert witness work.
Why did I apply for a TMAF bursary?
I felt that having not completed any specific continuous professional development in over 15 years and having seen my career advance, I would benefit from completing a course which sees a broad range of people connected with the agricultural sector brought together to learn and share experiences. The reputation of the Worshipful Company of Farmers Rural Business Management Course is second to none and results in broader range of contacts and lifelong friends.
I also thought that the course would push and challenge me beyond my comfort zone and encourage me to look differently at me as a professional and business leader.
What did I achieve?
During the two-week course, we heard from a variety of leading industry figures about their views on different sectors of the agricultural industry and provided use with take home points to use in our own businesses. We also visited other businesses to see how they were progressing and what their main focuses were and how they had overcome challenges.
The two weeks allowed us time to reflect on our businesses and paths within the industry and culminated with each member of cohort developing and presenting their own personal and business improvement plans. This gave me a clear plan, approach, timeframe and confidence to make changes following the course.
Beyond the presentations and visits we got to know all members of the cohort and were able to share experiences both professionally and personally, along with having fun in the evenings over a beer or two. I would encourage anyone who has responsibilities within a business to attend the course.