FCG Agriculture Brochure

The Farm Consultancy Group HELPING FARMING BUSINESSES GROW www.fcgagric.com

2 Who Are We? The Farm Consultancy Group (FCG) is the trading name of FCG Agriculture Ltd. It is a membership group for experienced farm management consultants. Formed in 1997, it now has 8 member businesses with 13 Shareholders and a further 14 employee consultants, covering most aspects of agriculture. All members specialise in farm business management with varying degrees of emphasis on technical issues. Membership is by invitation. OUR CURRENT MEMBER BUSINESSES The Farm Consultancy Group provides many of the operations normally carried out by a head office for its members, namely provision of specialist software, training, professional indemnity insurance, social media and public relations. Membership of the Group is a powerful marketing tool for individual consultants. The Group is a close-knit organisation that enables members to share ideas, problems and solutions. Client introductions within the Group are frequent. The company has a board of three directors and a secretary made up of shareholders within FCG Agriculture Ltd. The Chairmanship is rotated on a biannual basis with the Vice Chairman serving a total of two years on the board. In addition to the board, several subgroups report to the Chairman on the running of the group’s activities.

www.example.com 3 The Services We Provide Group Training • The group meets at least 6 times a year for training allowing the group to access the most up to date information. • The group has a two-day summer trip visiting progressive businesses. • The less experienced professionals are provided with additional training to enable them to progress to the required levels. Computer Software There are a number of programmes available for use by members, these have been developed in house or purchased at discount rates, these include - Financial Programmes Farm Accounts: A highly regarded Windows based accounts programme developed by our sister company, FCG Accounting Ltd. Agribudget: A 1 – 5 year financial budgeting and planning programme that is essential for farm business budgeting, planning business changes comparing alternatives, producing & monitoring five year plans and rent tenders. Technical Programmes Dairy Planning & Costs: A dairy costing and milk budget programme that is combined with a bureau service for costings from Kingshay. (Dairy Costings on a Group Discounted Rate) Diet Check One of the most respected livestock rationing programmes is available to our members. Public Relations & Marketing Membership of FCG will entitle individuals to provide articles and information to the Monthly Web-based FCG Business Briefing Newsletter. It also covers the cost of maintaining the website and social media channels. This will help build an individual consultant’s profile. Administration and branding A suite of FCG Template documents and stationery including letter heads, compliment slips and report covers.

4 FCG Client Support WE CAN HELP OUR CLIENTS WITH: Succession Planning Strategic Planning Business Appraisals and Forward Planning Facilitate Business Improvement Farm Management and Accounts Benchmarking & Data Analysis Project Management Resource Management Plans Facilitation of Discussion Groups Basic Payment Scheme Rural Development Scheme Advice Dairy Records & Technical Advice Contract Farming Agreements Group Buying Environmental Scheme Advice Planning Advice and Applications Agricultural Dwelling Appraisals

www.example.com 5 Benefits Of Joining FCG • Perception to clients of providing a personal service with the backup of a larger organisation with a recognised industry brand. • Cost effective group training and personal development with the ability to attract the top speakers/trainers to meetings. • Increased wealth of business knowledge, network of contacts and information within FCG and its employees as a whole. • Collective purchasing of information and software. Sharing of software and spreadsheets. • Opportunity to share marketing resources between colleagues. Event and show stands, FCG Newsletter and Marketing brochures. • Social media and website support which are managed centrally. • Opportunity to tap into existing specialisms within the Group to enhance your service. • Syndication of Articles, spreadsheets, research on specific topics, to reduce duplication, make better use of time and acquire collective knowledge and experiences on a specific subject. • Ability to charge full professional fee rates with the backing of a well-established brand name . • The ability to be part of a support network whilst remaining independent. • Opportunity to tender collectively for larger government type contracts. • Opportunity for Succession between members • Benchmarking your business against your peers Skill 01

6 How To Join Harry Edwards is the Recruitment Manager and oversees the process, which ensures that any interested consultant may progress from enquiry stage to fully operational consultant in a professional and smooth manner. Harry Edwards can be contacted on the following email: [email protected] Process of Joining The Farm Consultancy Group: 1. Membership is by application to the existing Shareholders. 2. The Recruitment Manager provides information about FCG to any potential member. 3. Potential members are introduced to the group by the Recruitment Manager prior to any application from them. 4. All potential members should be interviewed by the membership sub- group (applicants to provide a CV and a business plan). 5. Although the membership sub-group will make the recommedation, the final decision will require agreement by all shareholders. New members need to be able to demonstrate for their own potential success: 1. A potential client base 2. References from existing clients 3. Complimentary skills to group 4. A complimentary geographic spread 5. High professional standards 6. A satisfactory and realistic budget for their business. Fees: Full members pay a monthly fee of £230 + VAT (Net of Salary Paid for Pension Purposes). This covers meeting, training, meeting expenses, PR & Marketing and other operating expenses of the group. This fee would be paid monthly on joining and is reviewed annually in March. Each additional fee earner in the shareholder’s business pays training expenses of £114 + VAT per month. There is a joining fee of £2,400. This is divided as follows: £1,200 payable on joining followed by 12 x monthly payments of £100 per month (£1,200).

www.example.com 7 Become A Shareholder FCG is a shareholder organisation and our aim is to ensure that we have a broad share- holder base. We are therefore keen to upgrade Associates and have put in place the following process. Probationary Period FCG will review the Associate’s role after 12 months of them joining with the aim to offer them a shareholding. The Associate could opt to remain an Associate up to a maximum period of 3 years from the initial joining date. Criteria for Upgrading:: Ability to fund purchase of ‘A share/s’ (based on the shareholder value on the previous year end accounts) Must have a demonstrable client base. 80 % of the shareholders need to approve them. Satisfactory 3rd party / professional reference (e.g. Bank). Must have contributed to the group by means of: Meeting attendance of 75% Have written articles in the press Have brought a specialism to the group Failure to satisfy all the above criteria would be reason for the Recruitment Manager to recommend the Associate is not offered the chance of buying a shareholding. FCG Shareholders All FCG Shareholders have to sign a cooperation undertaking before they can purchase shares in the company.

Get in Touch FCG AGRICULTURE LTD 4 TRENT COURT TRENT SHERBORNE DT9 4SW COMPANY REGISTRATION NO: 03329975 VAT NO: 692 1195 25 www.fcgagric.com [email protected]