futures MARCH 2009
futures4 FOCUS
Day by day, Energus is springing into life
E
ACH day as I drive into work, I take
the time to stop and watch the vision
of a world-class centre for nuclear
and low-carbon-energy training being
created here in West Cumbria.
Soon to be up and running in Lillyhall,
ENERGUS has entered its final stage of
construction, with work focused on the
internal and external finishes.
The long-lead items of engineering
training equipment will arrive soon and be
installed in the workshop, the interior
design of the building is complete and the
furniture has been ordered.
State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment
will be installed in the 200-seat auditorium
and throughout the building, enabling us
not only to deliver high-quality training,
but provide a high-quality facility for the
local community to use.
Recruitment for our operational team
will start soon, initially for receptionists,
administrators, an IT technician and
grounds/building maintenance personnel
(if you are interested in joining the team
why not drop us an email at enquiries@
energus.co.uk, and we will be in touch).
Creating an iconic building is only the
first part of the jigsaw. A building itself
will not prepare the labour and business
base of West Cumbria for the potentially
huge opportunities that are around the
corner.
The recent announcement during the
Prime Minister's visit that land close to
Sellafield will be considered for new
nuclear reactors is to be welcomed. As such
it would bring as many as 9,000 jobs and
create up to 1,000 skilled long-term jobs
when operational.
However, it takes time to build the
underpinning skills and experience
necessary to deliver at such a level. Skilled
personnel would be needed in all levels of
construction, engineering and project
management, initially for the existing
decommissioning mission but then for the
construction and operation of any
new-build nuclear reactors. And certainly if
the quality of the construction work and
the can-do attitude that I witness on a
daily basis from Thomas Armstrong's
workers is representative of local
construction skills then the region has a
firm foundation on which to build.
ENERGUS is very much Cumbrian born
and bred.
The strength of what we will develop in
West Cumbria, and how far we progress
towards the vision of Britain's Energy
Coast becoming the UK's `Silicon Valley' for
carbon-free new energy technologies, is
highly dependent on the strategic
relationships we forge together.
West Cumbria must be brave: it needs to
set the bar high, and learn from the best in
the world.
Energus, working with local employers
(both large and small) and with further
and higher education providers, has a key
role to play in achieving this vision.
Part of our contribution will be the
ability to host regional, national and
international events here in West Cumbria.
Planning is well advanced for the hosting
of a range of conferences, including the
West Cumbrian Business Cluster's Energy
Business Opportunities Conference
(EBOC-09) scheduled for the spring. This
will bring together world-class suppliers
and energy businesses and promote the
businesses, expertise, skills and knowledge
that exist in West Cumbria.
So, it's steady as she goes at ENERGUS. The
foundations have been built, the building is
coming to life and will be ready on time to
play its part in the nuclear renaissance that is
beckoning for West Cumbria.
ANDREW KING
Chief Executive, ENERGUS
FARM MANAGERSGET IN TOUCH
Arboricultural Association
Ampfield House, Ampfield, Nr Romsey, Hants
SO51 9PA. Tel: 01794 368 717.
www.trees.org.uk
Barony College
Parkgate, Dumfries, DG1 3NE. Tel: 01387
860251. www.barony.ac.uk
Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Customer Contact Unit, Eastbury House, 30 -
34 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TL. Tel:
08459 33 55 77. www.defra.gov.uk
English Heritage
Customer Services Department, PO Box 569,
Swindon SN2 2YP. Tel: 0870 333 1181.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Forestry Commission
Great Eastern House, Tenison Road, Cambridge
CB1 2DU. Tel: 01223 314 546.
www.forestry.gov.uk
Harper Adams University College
Newport, Shropshire TF10 8NB. Tel: 01952
820280. www.harper-adams.ac.uk
Institute of Agricultural Management
(IAgrM)
Farm Management Unit, The University of
Reading, Reading RG6 6AT. Tel: 0118 378
6578. www.rdg.ac.uk/iagrm
Institute of Food Science and Technology
(IFST)
5 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherds Bush Road,
London W6 7NJ. Tel: 020 7603 6316.
www.ifst.org
Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE)
Barton Road, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4FH. Tel:
01525 861 096. www.iagre.org
Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF)
59 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2JG. Tel:
0131 240 1425. www.charteredforesters.org
Lantra: The Sector Skills Council for the
Environmental and Land-based Sector
Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry,
Warwickshire CV8 2LG. Tel: 024 7669 6996.
www.lantra.co.uk
The National Trust
PO Box 39, Warrington WA5 7WD. Tel: 0844
800 1895. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Royal Agricultural College
Cirencester, Glos GL7 6JS. Tel: 01285 652531.
www.royagcol.ac.uk/
The Royal Agricultural Society of England
Stoneleigh Park CV8 2LZ. Tel: 024 7669 6969.
www.rase.org.uk
Royal Forestry Society (RFS)
102 High St, Tring, Herts HP23 4AF. Tel: 01442
822 028. www.rfs.org.uk
University of Cumbria
Newton Rigg, Penrith, CA11 0AH. Tel: 01768
893400. www.cumbria.ac.uk
F
ARM managers take care of
animals, raise crops, plan ahead for
maximum yield, organise farm
administration, work machinery
and manage staff.
They need to have technical and
practical competence along with the
ability to make sound business decisions.
Farm managers must meet regulations
set by Defra for safe, high-quality produce
farmed in an environmentally sustainable
way.
Typical work can include planning
finances and production; practical
activities such as operating machinery,
feeding livestock and spraying fields;
marketing the farm's products;
maintenance and repair of farm
buildings, machinery and equipment;
maintaining and monitoring the quality
of produce; monitoring animal welfare;
protecting the environment and
maintaining biodiversity.
Many farmers are now diversifying to
supplement their income such as offering
B&B or camping accommodation, running
field sports, horse trials or off-roading.
They may also consider wind power
generation, speciality herds, farm shops
and pick-your-own, riding schools, fishing
lakes or processing their own products.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS
AN assistant or trainee farm manager
can expect to start on around �20,000
(rising to about �26,000 after two years'
training. Experienced farm managers
earn in the region of �50,000. Senior posts,
including those in a consultancy or
advisory role, can pay in excess of �70,000.
Farmers are on call day and night,
seven days a week, especially where
livestock is concerned.
The work pattern is all based on the
seasons, often with 16-hour days at busy
times, such as harvesting and lambing,
but it is sometimes possible to build up a
management team to oversee farms on an
advisory or consultancy basis, which can
reduce direct involvement in the
day-to-day work of the farm.
The work may be highly stressful due to
factors out of the farmer's control.
Fluctuations in market prices can make
long-term forecasting difficult and there
is the uncertainty of relying on bank
loans and subsidies. Work activities are
also highly dependent on the weather.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
PREVIOUS hands-on farming experience
and technical knowledge are at least as
important as academic qualifications, and
some employers may appoint candidates
on the basis of their experience alone. But
most farm managers will hold at least a
degree or HND in agriculture, or a related
subject.
The following subjects may improve
your chances: agriculture; farm business
management; crop management;
horticulture; land/estate management.
Postgraduate study is not necessary for
entry to the profession.
Candidates will need to show evidence
of organisational and time management
skills; the ability to work under pressure;
numeracy and IT skills; willingness to be
outside in all weathers and the patience to
undertake all sorts of practical, sometimes
repetitive jobs; self-motivation and the
ability to motivate others; business
awareness. A good understanding of
modern farming methods, commitment to
animal welfare, an interest in how
farming impacts the environment, and
awareness of customer demand and food
standards, are all important.
A significant amount of farming or work
experience in agricultural practice is
normally required before you can be
appointed to a management trainee
position. Practical experience can be
acquired as part of a sandwich course,
through holiday work or during a gap year.
TRAINING
Lantra: The Sector Skills Council for the
Environmental and Land-based Sector
runs a variety of regional and national
courses. These include short courses at all
levels, from training on an individual
piece of equipment such as a chainsaw,
through to assessing and validating NVQs
up to Level 5.
Barony College provides specialist
courses relevant to land-based industries
and occupations. Its facilities boast a
campus farm for students to gain real
farming experiences.
Organisations that offer work
experience and training schemes for
students or new graduates include
Co-operative Farms, part of the
Co-operative Group; Velcourt, a farm
management company; Management
Development Services (MDS) offers a
scheme for graduates wishing to enter the
fresh food and produce industry; Sentry
Farms; and JSR Farming Group.
Some agricultural colleges such as
Harper Adams University College and the
Royal Agricultural College offer
continuing professional development
courses to enable professionals to
enhance their careers.
If you are considering working in
organic farming, the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA) offers funding and training
through its Environmental Stewardship
Scheme.
BARONY
COLLEGE'S
STATE-OF-THE-
ART MILKING
ROBOTS:
Practical
activities such as
operating
machinery,
feeding livestock
and maintaining
farm buildings,
machinery and
equipment are all
just part of a
farm manager's
job

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