Business Clubs

Our vision is for farmers across the country, through local groups, to swap ideas and information, based on benchmarking their costs of production, and for these groups to network together.  We also hope to see more international exchange of data, because that gives us the measure of our strongest competition.

We promote this approach – called farm benchmarking, by speaking to farm groups about business improvement and by providing help and advice on best practice.  To get started, farmers can compare their farms with others of a similar size and structure often starting through informal discussions.  From this they can move on to comparing physical (production) information to a detailed financial breakdown of costs (with confidentiality safeguards in place).

We undertake research on benchmarking and support the wider benchmarking community through workshops and by tackling common problems like training.
 
Hortbench is a service delivered by the Food Chain Centre to fresh produce growers (excluding potatoes).  Hortbench puts into practice our vision on farm benchmarking.  We have 20 active Business Clubs that are supported to 2008.  Hortbench Clubs cover Top Fruit, Field Vegetables, Protected Crops and Soft Fruit.  If you are a grower and would like to know more about Hortbench or join a Club then please contact us.  

Potato growers who wish to take part in Business Clubs should contact the BPC.

 

information & case studies

.: Farm Benchmarking - Lessons Learnt from the Past five years

A summary and conclusions of the Food Chain Centre's work in championing farm benchmarking.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Hortbench

Hortbench is a service delivered by the Food Chain Centre to fresh produce growers (excluding potatoes).  Hortbench puts into practice our vision on farm benchmarking. 

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Benchmarking Through Business Clubs (Folder)

The 'Benchmarking Through Businesss Clubs' folder was published in May 2005 and contains a step-by-step illustration of what we mean by the term 'benchmarking' and describes the tools and guidance available.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Experts Workshop 2006

The Food Chain Centre supports the providers of farm benchmarking services by conducting research into common issues and by providing a forum for the exchange of best practice.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a

.: Experts Workshop 2005

The Food Chain Centre supports the providers of farm benchmarking services by conducting research into common issues and by providing a forum for the exchange of best practice.

Business areas:	Business Clubs	Sector:	n/a	Region:	n/a