Major bank joins Yorkshire campaign to help guide farmers in new era
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Hide AdBarclays has agreed to join the Grow Yorkshire initiative as a partner to help farming and food businesses better understand how they can increase their incomes in the months and years ahead.
The link-up follows talks between Grow Yorkshire chairman David Kerfoot and John Pinches, Barclays’ regional agricultural manager, about supporting businesses to overcome a challenging economic future.
Grow Yorkshire was launched by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in April, with the backing of more than 30 organisations who work with food and farming businesses in the region.
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Hide AdIt seeks to ensure food and farming enterprises get the support they need to innovate, improve productivity and cope with policy changes, such as the proposed transition of farm support payments to an Environmental Land Management Scheme that pays farmers “public money for public goods”.
Mr Kerfoot, who also chairs the LEP, hailed the partnership with Barclays as another important step.
He told The Yorkshire Post: “For the future of farming and food businesses in our area, connections with the financial sector will be crucial.
“Farmers need to know the choices they have available to help them to innovate, diversify and meet challenges. Bringing Barclays into our cohort of Grow Yorkshire partners really helps us to support these connections on the ground.”
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Hide AdMr Kerfoot said the partnership would also help Grow Yorkshire to promote and support “activities and themes” that are important within the farming and food sector, such as rural apprenticeships, women in farming and mental health events.
Welcoming the new partnership, Mr Pinches said: “We know that sector expertise and local knowledge are crucial to support the farming and food sector, and with the growing use of agri-tech, farmers need to be at the forefront to make the most of new technology.
“Grow Yorkshire’s ambitions reflect our own – helping agricultural businesses to grow, diversify and innovate for the future, and we look forward to partnering with Grow Yorkshire and the team to deliver the best support we can for the sector.”