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Do you want financial support to upskill your staff?

SkillsBoost Worcestershire Grant

Last year, there was a training and upskilling grant available for businesses based in Worcestershire. This grant supported employers with the costs of upskilling employees. The maximum grant available was £6,000 per business on a 50/50 match-funded basis (so training costs of £12,000 or more could qualify a business for the full grant). The maximum grant any single employee could claim was £1,500 on a 50/50 match-funded basis (so £3,000 or more training costs could qualify the employee for the full grant). We are awaiting confirmation of funding for this grant in 2025/26, but we are anticipating that it will be available again.

For example, if 3x Worcestershire-resident employees undertook the NFU Negotiation Skills Workshop at £300 (+VAT), this grant could pay £150 of this cost for each employee (as the grant will not fund the VAT element).

Wychavon Growth Grant

There is also a very small Growth Grant of £1,000 available through Wychavon District Council currently which you could apply for if you have any capital expenditure plans that could be supported by this. Full details can be found here:

Skills

Worcestershire Growth Hub work closely with local skills providers to help support businesses. This includes introducing businesses to Worcestershire Apprenticeships to support recruitment and upskilling via apprenticeship standards (and supporting with any associated grants/bursaries), introducing businesses to national skills providers like Serco who can help businesses recruit individuals who are out of work but actively looking for and willing to enter employment, and more.

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Farm for the Future – Royal Countryside Fund

Do you want help navigating agricultural policy changes including help with understanding ELMs and SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive)?

If you’re an owner-occupied or tenant farm in England that received BPS, The Royal Countryside Fund’s Farm for the Future programme is in its final year, offering a last chance for free support which includes a 1-2-1 session with a consultant to talk about your farm.

Its online workshops can be joined from the comfort of your own home via Zoom to help you and your farm business navigate policy changes and become more resilient and sustainable.

To find out more and sign up to the online group, contact Christina Hutchings via email [email protected] or call 07715 353 546 or visit

New rounds of funding secured for Worcestershire

I am really pleased to announce we have finally received confirmation of a further £33 million, 1-year extension of the Rural England Prosperity Fund. Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils will get a proportion of this.

The REPF will continue to provide capital funding to: 

• support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams.  
• support new and improved community infrastructure that provide essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy. 

While we have been campaigning for a longer-term round of the REPF, the announcement today is still very welcome, as it does seem to be a single year top-up, and Defra have made it clear that they intend any future rounds from this point to be 3–4-year rounds, which is in line with our asks. We’re told this is a top-up to provide as much stability as possible in advance of wider local funding reforms announced in the Autumn Statement.ÌýÌýRead the full Gov press release here

FiPL Programme Extended

There will be a further round of Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding which will be available for members farming in and around the Malvern Hills National Landscape, formerly the AONB. You can read more here:

Worcestershire County Farm Walk

Join us for a fascinating farm walk, kindly hosted by Lottie and Derek Wilkinson.

Part of the G’s Group, the business grows 1,600ha of crops, including cereals and a range of salad and vegetables, for supply to multiple UK retail and wholesale customers. The main farming base is at Manor Farm, Luddington, with crops grown across a 35 mile radius.Ìý

Date

11 July 2025

Venue & Timings

2pm at Norchard Farm

How to register

For more information and how to book please click here

Access Business Support to help your business

Worcestershire farmers and growers are being encouraged to engage with the Worcestershire Growth Hub to find out more about the support available for organisations. There is a variety of new business support, funding and grants available to help organisations across Worcestershire.

Local businesses are being encouraged to contact the Worcestershire Growth Hub team to find out how their growth could be supported. There is support available for businesses looking to upskill or train their staff, businesses looking to access specialist expert advice, funding for growth ambitions and much more.

Alongside this, organisations can also find out about all of the upcoming business support events via the Worcestershire Growth Hub’s events calendar. This events page pulls all of the available business support events being delivered in Worcestershire together into one place, regardless of the organiser, location or style of event. To contact the Worcestershire Growth Hub team: Call – 01905 677888 or email [email protected]

Farming Community Drop-In

Come and meet your Malvern Hills District Council rural farming community builder

Following the success of the collaboration with the NFU and Clive's Fruit Farm at the first of the farming engagement breakfasts in January, Community Builder Linda will be at Clive’s Fruit Farm.

This will be an opportunity to pop in and say hello and find out what a Community Builder does; buy a cuppa at the counter if wished or just pull up a chair and have a chat! It will all be very informal. We hope that the drop ins will be an opportunity to meet with other members of the farming community and find out what we can do to support. We understand the joys and challenges of the farming way of life. Your NFU County Adviser Emma Hamer will also try to be there.

We can help with information, networking, clubs and events and available grants and connect to local services. Or perhaps you have an idea for a course, activity or event that you'd like to talk through. We may even be able to support you in getting an idea off the ground or assist in finding a venue and looking into funding options.Ìý Perhaps you'd like to develop aÌýrural community history project, a farm walk, a discussion group or a lunch club. Or perhaps you would like to expand an existing activity and engage with farming/nonfarming neighbours. Or something else! We are here to support you in talking through that idea or to just provide a listening ear. Do pop in and say hello or feel free to contact Linda by email: [email protected] or telephone: 01684 862165

Date

14 May 2025 (then every second Wednesday of the month)

Venue & Timings

2-3pm at The Cafe, Clive's Fruit Farm, Nr Upton Upon Severn, WR8 OSA.

King’s Awards for Enterprise

Members are encouraged to apply for the King’s Award for Enterprise which recognises and encourages theÌýoutstanding achievements of UK businessesÌýin the fields of:

• innovation
• international trade
• sustainable development
• promoting opportunity (through social mobility)

The application process opens in May, and while it is quite a task to apply – you will need to evidence why you should win with a lot of data – I am sure it will be well worth it – not least you get a trip to Buckingham Palace to collect the award! Winning an Award offers multiple benefits including global recognition for your company, boosting staff morale and increasing growth.

To find out more and to nominate a business please visit theÌý. Alternatively, contact theÌýLieutenancy officeÌýfor advice.

Do you manage a Local Wildlife Site?

Help with carrying out surveys, looking at SFI options, and providing support with evidence for enhanced stewardship options could be available.

Your County Adviser, Emma Hamer met withÌýÌýthis week to try to find a way for them to work more closely with farmers. Many of our members will have a local wildlife site on their farms -there around 537 sites covering 9,274ha in the County. This is 5% of Worcestershire and represents a significant proportion of the county’s best natural habitats.

Local Wildlife Sites could be owned and managed by anyone including private individuals, businesses, organisations and public bodies. In addition to Local Wildlife Site status being an acknowledgement of the positive long-term management of a site and its substantive value for wildlife, having a site listed as a Local Wildlife Site can also provide landowners with:

• Access to professional support for botanical survey and habitat management advice
• Enhanced access to environmental grants and green finance options
• Opportunities to diversify farming enterprises

It is also worth noting that a Local Wildlife Site listing does not grant any right of public access to land, does not justify a statutory designation and does not directly impose legal obligations on a landowner or directly affect current agricultural activity.

If you think you may own or manage a Local Wildlife Site then we would love to hear from you and see how we may help. You can reach the Worcestershire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership by sending them an email at [email protected]

Have Your Say on Mobile Connectivity in Worcestershire

Is your mobile signal letting your business down? Over 800 people have voiced their concerns already, but we need more feedback, especially from businesses. Despite Ofcom data suggesting strong outdoor coverage, many report disruptions to calls, maps, banking, and more.
Some even note a decline in service over the past year.

We’re collaborating with mobile operators to address problem areas, and your input is vital. Share your experiences by taking our short survey to help us target improvements where they’re needed most:

Calling all business leaders

Are you ready to tackle your business challenges head-on and take your business to the next level?

Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Growth Hub would like to create a programme of free training for Worcestershire businesses. In order to do this, we need your help. Share your insights on your top training needs, how you'd like training be delivered and how you would like to receive support updates.

Your feedback is crucial in shaping a programme which truly benefits you!

Complete our to help shape a brighter future for your business!

Worcestershire Working with Water - Natural Flood Management (NFM) in the Body Brook

Worcestershire Working with Water project is a Natural Flood Management project. The project is managed by Worcestershire County Council, in partnership with the Environment Agency. It is a six-year grant in aid funded scheme, where we are aiming to hold back and slow the flow of water within Worcestershire County, with the overall aim of reducing flooding for downstream communities.

One of the projects they are currently working on is in partnership with the Canal & Rivers Trust and Natural England, looking at the catchment of the Body Brook in Droitwich, which is a tributary of the River Salwarpe, discharging into the canal just upstream of Droitwich town centre.

The aim of the project is to look at the Body Brook catchment as a whole and use a combination of natural flood management techniques combined with enhanced land management options to help slow and store water in the upper catchment. This will not only help to alleviate the flooding downstream but will also have the additional benefits of increasing biodiversity, creating habitat and also improving water quality.

An example of some natural flood management interventions might include leaky dams across small tributaries to help slow and store water, buffer strips on fields, ponds and attenuation areas, planting of hedgerows and aeration of the land to name just a few. Each intervention on its own is small scale, but cumulatively, these measures can have a significant impact on the volume of water stored upstream and the time it takes flood water to reach vulnerable communities.

The overall issue is the fact that there is a huge amount of silt ending in the canal coming from the Body Brook catchment. This is costing the Canals and Trust ~£100k/year to remove.

The message from Worcester County Council is that lots of small interventions collectively make a big difference! Get in touch with them for an initial discussion email: [email protected] or call 01905 843735

New rounds of funding secured for Worcestershire

I am really pleased to announce we have finally received confirmation of a further £33 million, 1-year extension of the Rural England Prosperity Fund. Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils will get a proportion of this.

The REPF will continue to provide capital funding to: 

• support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams.  
• support new and improved community infrastructure that provide essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy. 

While we have been campaigning for a longer-term round of the REPF, the announcement today is still very welcome, as it does seem to be a single year top-up, and Defra have made it clear that they intend any future rounds from this point to be 3–4-year rounds, which is in line with our asks. We’re told this is a top-up to provide as much stability as possible in advance of wider local funding reforms announced in the Autumn Statement.ÌýÌýRead the full Gov press release here

We have also heard that there will be a further round of Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding which will be available for members farming in and around the Malvern Hills National Landscape, formerly the AONB. You can read more here:

Worcestershire RABI Farm Walk

Hot drinks and cakes will be provided, donations to RABI on the night.

Date

2 July 2025

Venue & Timings

6.30pm at Ridge Farm, Kington, WR7 4DH by kind invitation of the Jordan family.

How to book

To register your place(s) please click

For more information contact [email protected] or call 07876 492839

Ìý

An Appeal to the Local Farming Community from Upton on Severn Town Council

UpTogether is a small group of Upton residents who are working, with the blessing of both the Town and District councils, to provide better street decorations in the town. We will shortly have installed overhead street decorations similar to those in Tewksbury, including both bunting and festoon lights, and we need to reach out to you in this matter.

The overhead decorations will be installed with MHDC support and they will comply with County Highways regulations for such installations. These require that catenary wires installed to support overhead decorations provide a minimum height clearance of 5.1m, and those installed in Upton will be compliant with this. By way of comparison, the national standard clearance for overhead structures (such as bridges) is 5.03m.

The decorations installed will therefore provide a height restriction in line with national and county regulations. We recognise that farmers transiting through Upton often have high loads, so we write to you to alert you to this height restriction.

As you know, farmers are entitled to load vehicles without height restriction, subject to safety. However, were a passing vehicle to snag on overhead decorations this would likely cause damage to both the decorations and the buildings they are anchored to. In this event normal road use regulations apply, and the fault for the damage would lie with the driver of the vehicle involved. This would cause a world of pain for property owners and, especially, the driver, who would be liable for the cost of repair. In a case of premeditation, the incident might even be regarded a criminal damage.

On a purely practical note, ignoring the height restriction would likely be counter productive. For example, farmers understandably pile bales high during haymaking in order to save time. However, the overhead decorations will be supported by robust steel catenary wires, and although these would probably snap if impacted by a vehicle loaded with hay bales, they are sufficiently robust to dislodge some bales in the process. This would cost the farmer time.

Why specifically farmers?

Actually, the same conditions will apply to everyone, but road hauliers use commercial vehicles built to negotiate national highways. These will pass beneath bridges and hence will not be at risk. By contrast, farmers may load their vehicles to the height of their choice and therefore risk their vehicle height becoming problematic.

Upton is a rural community in which farmers play an important part, and we have no wish to make your job, which we know is already difficult, even more stressful. By alerting you to the new height restriction we hope we can help to prevent avoidable headaches for farmers and property owners alike.

The recent street decoration improvements have been warmly received by Upton’s townsfolk – a welcome morale boost during difficult times. As part of the community, we ask you to pay attention to the height restriction in Upton town centre, for both your own benefit and theirs.

Your support in this matter would be genuinely appreciated, for which we offer our sincere thanks

Farmers for schools training

We are delighted to offer a Farmers for Schools training day on Thursday 23rd October between 10am – 3pm.

The training will encompass skills and tips to deliver to both secondary and primary school aged children, and will cover what is required of you when out on a school visit. As an ambassador you will show passion and knowledge for British farming.

Once you have completed your training we will aim to assign you to a school, the expectation is that you will work with another ambassador (if desired or can work solo) and go into school and deliver a 30–45-minute assembly. ÌýWe would hope that you could deliver two assemblies over the course of an academic year. To do this, you will have to complete a DBS checkÌý (funded by the NFU). As you will be a volunteer in the ambassador role, the NFU will reimburse any associated travel expenses.

Find out about the NFU Farmers for Schools programme by clickingÌýHERE

Date

23 October 2025

Venue & Timings

10am until 3pm at NFU Mutual office, Meadow Barn, Brockhill Court, Redditch, B97 6RB.

How to Register

If you would like to register for the programme, please click on the registration link and complete in full. The personal details you provide (email & full name) will then be shared with DBS Services to set up your electronic account for the required DBS check.

Annual Charity Harvest Supper (chargeable)

In aid of Air Ambulance, MS Society, Admiral Dementia Nurses, Parkinsons Society, RABI and Special Steps SEND Provision

Date

10 October 2025

Venue & Timings

7.30pm at Rowberry's Nurserys, Chaddesley, DY10 4QN

Cost

£15±è±è

How to Register

Please contact the Kidderminster Branch on 01299 251619 or email: [email protected]Ìý

West Mercia Police online survey

West Mercia Police are inviting you to take part in a short online survey to tell us how we’re doing and where we can do better.

• How visible are your local officers?
• Do you feel engaged and heard?
• How do you find out what we’re doing?
• Do we understand the issues in your area?
• How confident are you with policing in your area

This survey gives you the chance to help us understand what we’re doing well – and just as importantly, where we might need to improve.

The survey takes approx. 10 minutes to complete.

To complete the survey please click Ìý

Please share this with friends, family, and neighbours – the more voices we hear, the better we can serve you.

Grants Now Available for Worcestershire Businesses to Cut Energy Costs

Businesses across Worcestershire can now access generous support to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs, thanks to grants from the Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS).

Fully funded by the government, BEAS offers local businesses a free, expert energy assessment and access to grants ranging from £1,000 to £100,000. These grants can be used to invest in equipment and machinery improvements and upgrades such as efficient lighting systems, heating improvements, solar panels and other smart energy-saving technologies.

From manufacturing sites to large commercial premises, the scheme is designed to support a wide range of organisations looking to reduce their energy bills and improve operational performance. BEAS not only helps businesses become more sustainable but also enhances long-term profitability through reduced energy costs.Ìý

To be eligible, businesses must consume 25,000 kWh or more of energy annually. An easy-to-use online eligibility calculator is available to guide applicants through the process. This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to future-proof their operations and become more resilient to rising energy prices. You can check your eligibility and apply via the Business Growth West Midlands website.Ìý

Local government re-organisation in Worcestershire

The Government intends to remove 21 two-tier council areas in England in favour of creating unitary councils. This represents the most significant change to how councils are structured, and services are delivered in the county over 50 years.Ìý

There are currently two options being considered for Worcestershire:Ìý

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Replace all councils with one unitary councilÌý

This would replace the county council and six district, city and borough councils with just one council for the whole of Worcestershire.ÌýIt would provide all services from collecting bins to school admissions.  The new council would geographically cover the same areas as Worcestershire County Council does now. Ìý

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Replace all councils with two unitary councilsÌý

This means the county would be split into two new councils with one for the north of the county and one for the south of the county. Each one would be responsible for all services in their part of the county. Ìý

Councillors will be asked in the autumn to decide which of the two options to work up in more detail and submit to the Government by 28 November 2025.Ìý

To support councillors making this decision, WCC is seeking views from residents, town and parish councils, voluntary and community organisations, businesses and other partners we work with on how local services should be delivered in future.ÌýÌý

has more information and a link to a survey, which is open until 29 June. You are encouraged to take part.Ìý

Rural Confidence in the Police

Kreseda Smith is exploring factors that influence how rural residents feel about their interactions with the police, and with your help develop possible recommendations for practice change. This will be the first project to develop robust evidence about what is driving rural confidence in the police, and you can help. This will involve you attending one focus group (video recorded), and providing input on the reports and recommendations I develop based on your words, thoughts and experiences. A small recompense in available at the end of the project if you take part fully.

What you will do:

• One focus group discussion
• Liaise with Kreseda
• Provide input on guidance

What it means:

• Input to policy
• Create evidence

Where:

North Worcestershire

Date: 7 July at NFU Mutual Office, Brockhill Court, Brockhill Lane, Redditch, B97 6RB from 11am until Midday

South Worcestershire

Date: Ìý7 July at NFU Mutual Office, Suites 3 & 4 Tadcaster House, Keytec 7 Business Park, Pershore, WR102TA from 2pm until 3pm

For more information please contact [email protected]

Ìý

Ìý

Hanbury Show

The team at the Bromsgrove office are busy preparing for the Hanbury Show, if you are heading to the show, please drop in at the NFU Bromsgrove marquee

Date

5 July 2025

Venue & Timings

9am until 5pm at Park Hall Farm, Hanbury, B96 6RD.Ìý

Tickets

For more information please click

Farmer perceptions of police resourcing and training in response to farm crime.

Andrew Corner is a PhD student at Harper Adams University studying the relationship between police and farmers within England and Wales.

As part of the study, he is asking farmers to take part in an online survey which you can view . If you would like to take part, please do so before 1 July 2025.

Are there differences in colostrum quality between UK dairy breeds

Megan Edwards is in her final year as a master’s student at Aberystwyth University.

As part of her end of year dissertation, she is investigating the following title: Are there differences in colostrum quality between UK dairy breeds?

In order to obtain research for this title, she is naturally trying to collect data representing a wide range of dairy breeds from across the UK.

If you would like to take part in the research, please click (completion takes around 15 minutes)