Succession Planning Enquire Now With rising asset values, land ownership complexities, and tenancy arrangements, having the right succession plan in place has never been more important for farming families and businesses alike. Succession is often a key driver of business decisions. Whether you’re looking to hand over to the next generation, bring new partners into the business, or simply ensure that your affairs are in order, it pays to plan ahead. Starting early can ease the transition, reduce stress, and help manage potential liabilities such as Inheritance Tax (IHT) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT). At The Andersons Centre, we work with farming families and their other professional advisers to put practical, workable plans in place. Our focus is on helping you make well-informed decisions that reflect your wishes and meet the financial needs of everyone involved. We have experience in supporting a wide range of farm businesses, from small family farms to large estates. Our aim is to give you clarity, peace of mind, and a structure that stands the test of time. If you are considering how best to structure your business or to begin succession planning, we are here to help. We offer a free initial consultation for new clients, with no obligation. It’s an opportunity to talk through your situation and explore the best way forward for your farm and your family. Key Contacts Joe Scarratt Partner & Head of Farm Business Consultancy Succession Planning Partner & Head of Farm Business Consultancy Joe Scarratt is a Partner and Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre. He specialises in assisting arable and mixed businesses, as well as some estates, with long term strategic business planning. Joe undertakes one-off business reviews as well as ongoing consultancy support to long term clients, focused on maximising profitability. He spends a considerable proportion of his time establishing and managing joint ventures and contract farming agreements. Qualifications & Experience 2018 to date - Head of Farm Consultancy at The Andersons Centre 2018 to date - Partner of The Andersons Centre 2009 - 2018 – Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre Delivers business advice to a wide range of farming businesses, focusing on the arable and dairy sectors Oversees the operation of a number of Contract Farming Agreements across all sectors Approved deliverer under DEFRA’s Farming Advice Service delivering group advice to farmers and agricultural professionals Approved deliverer under the Welsh Assembly’s Farming Connect Scheme, delivering advice to farmers across Wales Undertakes commissioned research projects 2005 - 2009 – Harper Adams University College. First Class BSc Hons Business Management with Marketing. The course focused upon the agri-food industry 2000 to Present – Working in and developing the family farming business. The farm is predominantly arable with a small beef enterprise Areas of Expertise Farming Joint Ventures and Contract Farming Farm Business Management Technical Farm Business Advice Farm Strategy and Succession Planning Farm Investment Appraisals and Loan Applications Farm and Rural Grant Applications Farm Business Tenancies Farm Business Administration Farming Connect (FC) accredited Oliver Hall Partner & Senior Farm Business Consultant Succession Planning Partner & Senior Farm Business Consultant Oliver is a Partner and Senior Farm Business Consultant within the Andersons Consultancy Team. He plays an active role in his own family livestock enterprise and also invests in several dairy businesses across the UK, giving him first-hand insight into the commercial realities faced by farmers. Oliver’s specialist skills include developing farming joint ventures such as contract and share-farming arrangements, as well as providing farm business management advice, budgeting support, and long-term strategic and succession planning. He undertakes detailed investment appraisals and loan applications, alongside coaching businesses in high-utilisation grassland systems. His dairy expertise covers infrastructure design, technical KPI development, and quantifying the financial benefits of performance improvements, as well as overseeing transitional and turnaround management. He also facilitates farmer-led dairy discussion groups. Outside of work, Oliver enjoys weekend farming. He also values time with his family and takes every opportunity to play sport and keep active. Qualifications & Experience 2021 - Partner, The Andersons Centre 2017- Senior Farm business consultant, The Andersons Centre 2014 –ILM- Lean Management In Dairy Farming 2010 - Co founder of Evolution Farming – Multi Site Pasture based dairy business 2009-2010 – Farm business consultant, The Andersons Centre 2008- Family farming partnership, West Yorkshire 2005-2008 – The Royal Agricultural College – Bsc (Hons) Agriculture Areas of Expertise Farming Joint Ventures, Contract Farming and Share Farming Farm Business Management and budgeting Farm Strategy and Succession Planning Farm Investment Appraisals and Loan Applications Grassland management Practical knowledge of farm management George Cook Senior Farm Business Consultant Succession Planning Senior Farm Business Consultant George is a Senior farm and rural business consultant with the Andersons Centre team. He has over 35 years’ experience working with a wide range of businesses across all sectors. His approach is to bring practical reality to sometimes difficult financial and family challenges. On the more practical front he has an ongoing interest on the soil and land management topics of the businesses he deals with. Prior to joining the team, he had the benefit of 15 years of practical farming and formal training. This included manging a large estate farm in Suffolk and taking his father out of farming on the family rented farm. He is formally qualified with and HND (Ag Sc) Diploma in farm business management. He also has BASIS Facts and L6 quality of soils qualifications. He is a keen and competitive sportsman and has a team of working gundogs. Qualifications & Experience FBIAC and PIAgM BASIS L6 Quality of Soils BASIS FACTS Qualified 2015 Soil Health & Management Masters Module 2012 BASIS Certificate in Conservation Management - June 2007 BASIS qualified Soil and Water Management December 2011 1978 - present DEFRA Cereal Seed Inspector 1971 - 1975 Royl Agricultural College, Cirencester HND in Agricultural Science Diploma in Farm Management 2000 to Present - Senior Consultant in The Andersons Centre team 1993 to 2000 - Senior Consultant in Andersons’ Special Services Team 1987 - Joined Andersons’ Melton Mowbray office as a Farm Business Consultant 1975-1987 - Managing Partner 320 acre rented family farm, Surrey Assistant Farms Manager on a 2,500 acre beef and arable farm in Suffolk Farmers assistant 550 cow dairy unit, Dorset Areas of Expertise Whole Business Strategic & Detail Planning; a Practical Approach Problem Solving & Dispute Resolution Soil Health, Management, Cropping and Cultivation Strategies Investment Appraisal Practical approach to CSS and SFI Schemes Rural Plaaning Appraisals Joint Ventures and Business Tenances Amelia Rome Farm Business Consultant Succession Planning Farm Business Consultant Amelia is a Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre. She works with numerous clients across England, specialising in the arable sector. She provides services such as budgeting and cash flow monitoring, investment appraisals, borrowing proposals, contract farming agreements, grant applications, environmental scheme applications, and whole business reviews. Amelia comes from an arable family farming business in Cambridgeshire and holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Agriculture with Farm Business Management from Harper Adams University. Qualifications & Experience Joined The Andersons Centre in November 2020 BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management (2:1) Harper Adams University (2019 Graduate) Placement year was spent with Andersons Northern in Edinburgh Delegate at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth 27th Agricultural Conference A continued involvement with the family farm business in Cambridgeshire. The farm enterprises include combinable crops, sheep and beef Areas of Expertise Experience in most aspects of lowland agriculture, but specialising in arable systems Practical knowledge of farm management Farming Joint Ventures and Contract Farming Technical Farm Business Advice Farm Strategy and Succession Planning Farm and Rural Grant Applications Business consultancy advice, budgeting and financial planning for agricultural businesses Accounts analysis; investment appraisals; business reviews; strategic planning and enterprise costings
