Incorporating Rural Business Skills

About Us

The Rural Enterprise Consultancy has been offering practical and down to earth advice to businesses moving beyond the farm gate for the last 10 years.  We have helped a wide range of rural clients to achieve more sales and more profit.

As well as helping established businesses, we have an excellent track record in helping people research potential new businesses or diversifications.  We can help to make sure that a new business idea is viable both economically and in terms of the skills and resources available, before the decision to invest is made.

We have first hand experience in a producer processor enterprise so understand at first hand what it is like to juggle hands on farming with direct sales to the public and to the service sector.  This means that you will get jargon free practical solutions when you ask us to help you. 

Lucy Jones, the Managing Director of the Rural Enterprise Consultancy formed Rural Business Skills Ltd in 2003 in order to offer a range of marketing related training packages funded by the DEFRA Vocational Training Scheme.  Now that this scheme has ceased, it has been decided to bring the two companies together under the Rural Enterprise Consultancy Ltd in order to simplify management and administration.

We offer one to one advice, group advice and training packages which can be tailor made to a groups’ individual needs.  We specialise in feasibility studies, business planning, strategic marketing, pricing, visual merchandising and design of exhibition material.  We are also able to prepare grant applications at such times as when grants are available to apply for.   In conjunction with Brand Values Ltd we make short films to illustrate customer orientation or case studies to show successful competitive strategies.

One to One Advice

We have been delivering the Farm Business Advice Scheme for Business Link Devon and Cornwall, Business Link Somerset, Business Link Gloucestershire and Business Link Wessex since 2001 in the aftermath of the Foot and Mouth outbreak.  We also offer individual one to one advice on marketing issues to clients who ask us for this.

Our one to one advice has considered the following:

Farm shops Box schemes Direct sales of meat Cheese making Specialist holidays Holiday accommodation Equine enterprises Angling enterprises Bottled water enterprises Clotted cream production Conservation enterprises Horticultural enterprises Worm farming Sheep dairying Composting enterprises Industrial and office units Fruit wine production Preserves Sales of game Alternative therapies Furniture Making Enterprise Craft Enterprise Training Enterprise Fodder Business Ready Meals Producer Florist

If you are an established business or someone who is considering a new venture – do contact us for an informal chat on 01300 320277 or via email on lucy@ruralhorizons.com .  You will find us approachable and realistic. 

Training

We offer the following training packages:

Marketing for Profit

A course which is a hybrid of consultancy and training, delivered in a small group of six businesses.  The course is spread over two days separated by 8 weeks in which each business prepares their own marketing plan with support from the facilitators.   This has been delivered throughout the South West under the Vocational Training Scheme and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback:

‘The best training course I have ever been on’ – fruit farmer

‘I put my prices up as we discussed and paid for the course within a week’ – farm shop owner

‘Now that we have implemented the recommendations I can actually foresee the farm making a profit after many years of breaking even’ – pork producer

Although the Vocational Training Scheme has ceased we are still able to offer this course, please telephone us for more details and an informal chat about what is covered in the course.

Researching the Feasibility of a New Enterprise

This is a one day workshop which empowers people to research their own enterprises.  It is much more powerful to find out the information for oneself than to rely on an impartial consultant.  It will also save you money!  It is so much better to invest time and effort at the beginning of a new enterprise, than to launch straight into something and find out later that it has all been a mistake.

Not only this, but also you will have the skills to research any other new enterprise in the future once you have attended this workshop.

Previous delegates have said:

‘We stayed up late discussing the future direction of the farm, you really gave us food for thought’ – dairy farmers

‘An excellent course, well delivered, fun and accessible, I am glad I came’ – livestock farmer

Making the Most of Your Markets

This is a one day course designed for those who are selling produce to the public via farmers’ markets.  Many stall holders are experiencing a levelling off or even a decline in income from their farmers’ market stall as more and more competitors enter the market.  This course will help you to compete effectively, increase your sales and encourage repeat business. Topics covered are pricing, niche marketing, visual merchandising, selling, repeat business, brand building and innovation. 

Previous delegates have said:

‘I have learnt so much today, I shall look at my market stall in a new light – Thank You!’ – meat producer

‘I thought it might be a bit dry before I came but I was completely wrong, you made it all so down to earth and relevant’ – baker

Successful Exhibiting in the Food Sector

This is a one day course designed for those businesses who are attending their first exhibition.  It will look at different options for stand design, how to make the most of your time at the exhibition, how to record and follow up leads properly and how to promote your product in a way that appeals to prospects. 

Previous delegates have said:

‘This course has been so useful – I now know how I shall approach future exhibitions’ – ice cream maker

‘A breath of fresh air – down to earth and sensible advice which works’ – food producer

If you are interested in any of the above courses or you would like a tailor made course for a specific purpose please contact us on 01300 320277 or lucy@ruralhorizons.com for more information.

Marketing

We know that good marketing begins with customer requirements.  Understanding who the customers are and what they require means that our clients’ businesses can adapt their product or service to the market place.  They can also ensure that any marketing budget is used to the best effect.  This means that our clients gain maximum publicity for minimum outlay.  Those who are in the process of raising  finance  for a new enterprise will need to demonstrate that thorough market research has been carried out.   We can help with this either directly or in a mentoring  capacity. Contact us to talk about the options.