The search is on for the UK's best NEWBIE entrant farmers

“What made you start a farming business, what it covers and what you have achieved? We want to hear from you”

Are you the UK's best NEWBIE farmer? The James Hutton Institute, as part of the EU-funded NEWBIE project (New Entrant netWork: Business models for Innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience in European agriculture) is calling for applications for the NEWBIE Award 2020, which highlights the work of pioneering new entrant farmers across the UK.

The NEWBIE project offers an award to new entrants in 8 European countries including the UK, as part of a suite of opportunities aiming to help new farmers, crofters and smallholders network and develop successful businesses.

The inaugural UK award was won by Lyn Cassells and Sandra Baer of Lynbreck Croft, a 150-acre mixed habitat croft enterprise located in the Cairngorms National Park. After being presented the award at the Royal Highland Show last year, Lyn and Sandra were granted €500 towards training, and participated in an international new entrant farmer conference held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where they networked with NEWBIE award winners from across Europe.

Dr Adam Calo, NEWBIE UK project leader, said: “The awards celebrate innovation, creativity and resilience. This could be presented as economic resilience through sound financial planning or demonstrable ability to respond to challenges like COVID-19, climate change and Brexit.

“What made you start a farming business, what it covers and what you have achieved? We want to hear from you.”

To enter the Newbie Award 2020, just film a two-minute video (ideally on your mobile phone) talking about you and your business and send it to newbieaward@hutton.ac.uk via WeTransfer or any other file transfer service. Visit www.hutton.ac.uk/newbie2020 for more details. 

Applications close on 2^nd December 2020 and the winner will be announced in spring 2021.

For more information about NEWBIE visit its project page and the NEWBIE Academy website.