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Diversification

Making Diversification Work for Your Farm Business

Diversification is becoming an increasingly important consideration for many farming businesses. For some, it offers a means of replacing reduced support payments in the years ahead; for others, it provides a valuable opportunity to make better use of existing assets or add value to farm products through entrepreneurial thinking.

At The Andersons Centre, we bring a wealth of experience from working with a wide range of diversified farming businesses. These include ventures in areas such as:

  • Renewable energy
  • Value-added food and drink production
  • On-farm processing and retail
  • Conversion of agricultural buildings
  • Off-farm property investment

A successful diversification project must be rooted in sound business planning. We can support you by:

  • Assessing the market potential of your chosen venture
  • Evaluating the viability, costs and returns on capital investment
  • Reviewing relevant government policies and support schemes
  • Advising on market access and developing tailored marketing strategies

The most successful projects are those that align with your existing business, your people, and the resources you already have. A clear, well-considered business case is key.

You can also watch the video below to hear directly from farmers who have benefited from the support of Andersons’ consultants.

Let us support your farm

grass border with a chicken and cow sillouette

Key Contacts

Joe Scarratt

Partner & Head of Farm Business Consultancy

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

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

Amelia Rome

Farm Business Consultant

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

Kerry Jerman

Farm Business Consultant

Qualifications & Experience
  • December 2014 – BIAC Rural and Agricultural Consultants Foundation Course
  • August 2013 to Present Day – Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre
  • April 2013 – July 2013 - Lambing assistant and sheep worker for a local sheep and beef farmer
  • July 2012 – April 2013 - Assistant Dairy Herdsman on 450 cow herd near Hamilton, New Zealand
  • 2009 - 2012 – Aberystwyth University. 2:1 BSc Hons Agriculture with Business Studies. The course focused on the UK agricultural industry with business principles built in
  • 2006 to Present– Working in the family farming business. The farm is predominantly sheep along with a small suckler herd which sells offspring as forward stores
Areas of Expertise
  • Farm Consultancy
  • Farming Connect (FC) accredited

Edward Calcott

Farm Business Consultant

Qualifications & Experience
  • Joined The Andersons Centre in January 2019
  • BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management (2:1) Harper Adams University (2016 Graduate)
  • Part of the winning team for the Institute of Agricultural Management Farm Planner competition whilst at Harper Adams.
  • Placement year was spent with a large UK integrated poultry company. Time was spent on various breeder farms; the hatchery; and commercial farms for broiler chickens and turkeys.
  • Part of the 2017-18 NFU Poultry Industry Program (PIP).
  • A continued involvement with the mixed farming family business in Staffordshire. The farm enterprises include combinable crops, sucker cows, sheep and some agricultural contracting.
Areas of Expertise
  • Experience in most aspects of lowland agriculture including arable, beef, sheep, dairy and potatoes.
  • On-farm diversifications including direct sales; marketing and holiday lets.
  • Practical experience within the UK poultry sector, including layers, broilers, turkeys.
  • Business consultancy advice, budgeting and financial planning for agricultural, food and rural businesses.
  • Accounts analysis; investment appraisals; business reviews; strategic planning and enterprise costings.
  • Contract farming and joint ventures.
  • Practical knowledge of farm management.
  • BPS, grant applications and farm assurance.
  • Farming Connect (FC) accredited.

Anna Bowen

Farm Business Consultant

Qualifications & Experience
  • February 2022 to Present Day – Farm Business Consultant at The Andersons Centre
  • Previously worked as a farm business consultant in West Wales
  • Contract farms a 300- cow spring block calving herd in Ceredigion
  • FACTS qualified
  • RoMS accredited mobility scorer
  • Approved Mastitis Control Plan and QuarterPro deliverer
  • 2021 Nuffield Scholar- “Can the UK improve the ethics of its dairy calf management whilst retaining profitability?”
  • 2019 Entrepreneurs in Dairying course
  • 2017 Richard John Memorial Trust Scholarship, studied the sustainability of the Australian dairy industry
  • 2016 MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (Royal Agricultural College)
  • 2014 BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Management (Royal Agricultural College)
  • Fluent Welsh speaker
Areas of Expertise
  • Farm business consultancy and budgeting
  • Business reviews and strategic planning
  • Practical experience of farm management
  • Dairy farming, particularly spring block calving
  • Nutrient management planning (Farming Connect approved)
  • Herd health