Print page   |  Email page 

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



See also


. : Growers are Leading the Way in using Benchmarking, closely followed by Beef and Sheep Farmers (Press Release - 02 Dec 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years. The biggest has been with fresh produce growers who now lead the way with 30%. The Food Chain Centre has played a direct part in this through the launch and promotion of Hortbench in 2003.


. : East Anglian Farmers Take the Top Spot (Press Release - 02 Dec 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years, with East Anglian farmers taking the top spot (36% are now benchmarking).


. : East Midlands Farmers Beat National Average for Benchmarking (Press Release - 02 Dec 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years. With 27% of East Midland farmers using benchmarking compared with the national average of 24%


. : Initiative to Encourage More Farmers to Benchmark is a Spectacular Success (Press Release - 24 Nov 2004)

A survey of over 1,200 farmers shows that the number of farmers using benchmarking has almost tripled in the space of two years.


. : Food Chain Centre Awarded Major Grant to Develop Promotion of Benchmarking (Press Release - 14 Jan 2004)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has been awarded a major grant by Defra, worth in excess of £300,000, to develop its work to promote benchmarking across the food and grocery industry.


. : Food Chain Centre Gets Farmers on the Starting Blocks to Profitability (Press Release - 31 Mar 2003)

Today the Food Chain Centre (FCC) launched a starter pack* to help farmers reap the benefits of benchmarking. As the FCC’s research shows, benchmarking is a powerful way for farmers to compare performance, cut costs and improve profits but only a small number of farmers are benefiting. The pack explains how benchmarking works and guides farmers on how to get started.


. : Food Chain Centre Receives Half a Million Pounds to Help British Horticulture (Press Release - 12 Nov 2002)

The Food Chain Centre (FCC) has received a grant of £0.5 million from DEFRA to help UK horticultural businesses take on the best in Europe.