Deirdre Fitzpatrick & Associates and Mallusk Enterprise Park and CAFRE
The Diversification Challenge Business Start Programme, designed to help rural families set up new business ventures, is delivered in partnership by local consultancy Deirdre Fitzpatrick & Associates, Mallusk Enterprise Park Limited and the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).
It was devised in response to the background of challenges to farmers, including a decline in income, single farm payments and Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform and the impact of BSE, beef export bans and foot and mouth disease.
The programme was run as a series of evening workshops, and each participant had up to 18 hours of one to one mentoring. The programme has increased participants’ self confidence and given them knowledge of all business areas, self presentation and the practicalities of providing a product or service.
Examples of new rural enterprises which participants have embarked upon as a result of this programme include engineering, catering, retail and business services.
143 farm family members have now gained an Institute of Leadership and Management accreditation and are all running successful farm diversification businesses.
For further details on Deirdre Fitzpatrick & Associates and Mallusk Enterprise Park and CAFRE, please contact DEL Press Office on 028 9025 7872.