Ricardo Sustainability, Clean Energy and EnvironmentRoads to Resilience
SHARE
Farming is changing
What do resilient farm businesses really look like? How can farms successfully adopt proven solutions and find new ones to be profitable, resilient and regenerative?
Be one of 40 farmers in the Midlands to find out.
Over three years, work with experts from Andersons, the GWCT Allerton Project and Ricardo to baseline your business, looking across the whole farm to tackle challenges, and unlock opportunities. Get fully-funded 1:1 business and environmental advice, tailored workshops, accredited training, peer networking, and support to future-proof your farm.
One-to-one advice
Business Advice - A face-to-face farm business review with an Andersons business consultant, a detailed report, a follow-up meeting. This can include:
• A review of your business
• Help with future planning
• Advice on business structure
• Analysis of capital investment and future funding
• Tenancy help
• Diversification advice
Environmental and Regenerative Farming Advice – A one-to-one visit from an environmental adviser, a report of options for your farm and follow-up advice on taking actions forward. Advice is tailored to your needs and can include:
• Government grants and schemes
• Private grants, projects and premiums
• Farm carbon assessment
• Regenerative agriculture
• Enhancing biodiversity
• Watercourse protection
• Pollution prevention
Tailored workshops
Work and learn with 39 other farmers. Expand and increase your own findings by comparing and discussing these with peers through farm visits and regular discussion.
The programme of focussed workshops with experts will look at all aspects of business, environmental and personal resilience. Key topics will include: soil health, regenerative practices, wildlife and habitats, environmental schemes, Defra updates and business and accounting support. These will be hosted at Allerton and farms involved in the project.
Accredited training
BASIS Sustainable Land Management courses (1-day or 5-day options) worth up to £1300.
Bespoke training courses covering soil, water, cover crops and regenerative farming.
Online toolbox
Access to an online toolbox of farm business and environment courses, information and self-help checklists.
Who do we want to work with:
ü Farmers looking to improve business resilience and take steps on the journey to more sustainable farming.
ü Farmers keen to work with us for 3 years, including a programme of workshops, 1-2-1 advice and peer-to-peer learning.
APPLY NOW – DEADLINE 11th AUGUST 2025
If you would like to benefit from the advice, support and learning available through this opportunity, to work towards resilience, future proof your business and get you ready for new opportunities then please apply using the following online form
Get in touch
If you have questions about the programme or need help with your application please contact us on:
Tel: 01235 753 530
FAQs
Ricardo farming helpline team will be happy to answer questions and help you with your application – call 01235 753 530 or email r2r@ricardo.com
All farm types are eligible. We welcome applications from all sizes and types, business structures and hope to involve a variety in the programme.
We are looking primarily for farmers in the Midlands due to the location of workshops - mostly held at Allerton project visitor centre Visits | The Allerton Project. We do not have a strict eligibility requirement in terms of farm location – if you would like to participate and can attend the workshops please do apply.
11th August 2025
2- 3 weeks after the application deadline.
Autumn 2025 – onboarding and kick-off workshops are being held on 15th September and 22nd October. Participants need to attend one of these dates (not both). If you think these dates are not feasible please contact us to discuss your requirements.
All farms are expected to attend most of the quarterly workshops and commit time to participate in the one-to-one advice activities, as well as follow-up – this will vary from farm to farm. We also encourage at least one person from the farm to participate in the training
Yes. Please only make one application for the farm and tell us on the application form who will be involved. We need one person to be the main contact point and participant to provide some continuity through the programme, and a named person with decision making role in the farm (if different from the main contact/participant) to be aware/supportive of participation. Additional people can join specific workshops or get involved in activities if relevant (subject to capacity).
The programme is managed by Ricardo, working in partnership with Allerton Project, Andersons and with funding from Elm Tree Trust.
Yes – the one-to-one advice is all individual for each farm and so can be tailored to your needs whether it’s succession planning or running the numbers of a new diversification or rotation idea, or simply getting a clear view of input costs to help manage business profitability. The environmental advice is also tailored – we have a wide pool of advisors with different specialisms.
