2024 Agenda

Avril will delve into things which are often forgotten in new diversification enterprises, but which can make the difference between success and failure. This practical advice session will include business planning, making your business accessible both physically and digitally, and sustainability. Attendees will also get a flavour of what is included in the upcoming CLA Advisory Handbook on diversification. 

Avril will delve into things which are often forgotten in new diversification enterprises, but which can make the difference between success and failure. This practical advice session will include business planning, making your business accessible both physically and digitally, and sustainability. Attendees will also get a flavour of what is included in the upcoming CLA Advisory Handbook on diversification. 

It can be hard to keep track of the wide range of funding farmers and land managers in England can access. This talk will take a whistlestop tour through the options available from both the public and private sectors. It will cover government schemes – including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship – private nature markets, and the opportunities for diversification through Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). 

It can be hard to keep track of the wide range of funding farmers and land managers in England can access. This talk will take a whistlestop tour through the options available from both the public and private sectors. It will cover government schemes – including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship – private nature markets, and the opportunities for diversification through Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). 

A secure and resilient supply of water sits at the foundation of successful rural businesses, but climate change and other pressures mean that water supplies are increasingly insecure. Matthew will cover ways of building water security within your business, from water storage and healthy soils to planning for future water need. 

A secure and resilient supply of water sits at the foundation of successful rural businesses, but climate change and other pressures mean that water supplies are increasingly insecure. Matthew will cover ways of building water security within your business, from water storage and healthy soils to planning for future water need. 

Government has ambitious tree-planting targets – but is it right for you? Graham will review the key issues landowners need to consider before committing land to woodland creation and will outline the key grants and funding opportunities available. 

Government has ambitious tree-planting targets – but is it right for you? Graham will review the key issues landowners need to consider before committing land to woodland creation and will outline the key grants and funding opportunities available. 

The new Government has placed a significant emphasis on improving the planning system, particularly to allow delivery of 1.5million homes over a five-year period. This talk will cover additional topics of interest including diversification, permitted development rights and environmental considerations, such as Biodiversity Net Gain. 

The new Government has placed a significant emphasis on improving the planning system, particularly to allow delivery of 1.5million homes over a five-year period. This talk will cover additional topics of interest including diversification, permitted development rights and environmental considerations, such as Biodiversity Net Gain. 

Camilla and Hal will give a no-nonsense chat about what is required to do the 10 most common forms of diversification in UK agriculture. They will cover the basic requirements of Solar, Wind, BNG, Battery storage, Data centres, Camping/Glamping, Agri tourism, Housing, Carbon credits and forestation. Our hope is you will leave with a better sense of what options would work best for whichever parcel of land you are thinking of diversifying.

Senior land managers from Environment Bank will explore the important role that agriculture plays in their BNG Habitat Banks. They will showcase some incredible partnerships currently underway between Environment Bank and farmers across the country - discussing everything from habitat creation and livestock grazing to land leases and management payments. Environment Bank are already selling Biodiversity Units to developers and will examine how their 50/50 revenue share policy is helping to ensure farmers get a fair deal from BNG. 

Senior land managers from Environment Bank will explore the important role that agriculture plays in their BNG Habitat Banks. They will showcase some incredible partnerships currently underway between Environment Bank and farmers across the country - discussing everything from habitat creation and livestock grazing to land leases and management payments. Environment Bank are already selling Biodiversity Units to developers and will examine how their 50/50 revenue share policy is helping to ensure farmers get a fair deal from BNG. 

In this session, John will discuss how farmers can understand their carbon footprint, reduce emissions and take responsibility for their carbon numbers to help achieve sustainability targets. John will share challenges and lessons learned from his Arc Zero project in Northern Ireland and how quality data can drive behavioural change and empower farmers to work together in their journey towards net zero. 

Join Evelyn Ecology to find out more about how this family run business can work with you to generate Biodiversity Net Gain units for sale. Evelyn Ecology specialise in working with landowners to implement habitat creation and enhancement on areas of land which are not in use or which are low yielding.  The session will explain in detail their unique & collaborative approach, which ensures that land remains under your ownership, whilst providing a distinctive opportunity for both positive ecological improvements and financial gains.

This panel discussion will explore how renewable energy can help generate additional income for your business. Speakers will look into renewable options, advice on planning, supply contracts, tax and financial implications and how to choose the right developer for a successful project.

Farming today has changed. Whether you’re an estate, dairy, beef, sheep, poultry or cereal farmer, the chances are you'll be seeking to maximise every business opportunity. This session will focus on what to consider from an insurance perspective when planning a diversification project and steps you can take to help ensure the success and longevity of your new venture. 

Diversifying farm businesses can generate additional income and boost local economies, but navigating planning systems, local authorities, business rates, and available grants can be complex. This panel will guide farmers through the process, offering advice on legal and financial preparation, the impact of change in government, and practical tips for successful diversification.

This seminar will showcase the importance of a strategic and collaborative approach to the future planning and management of your assets. Kate will use case studies and examples to show how a strategic review can help your business model now, and for many generations to come.  

In the evolving landscape of UK agriculture, integrating battery storage with existing solar energy systems presents a promising opportunity for farmers. For those who have already invested in solar power, battery storage offers a significant enhancement to energy efficiency, allowing stored energy to be used during peak demand times or when sunlight is scarce. This not only reduces reliance on the grid but also slashes energy costs, offering a financial reprieve for agricultural operations. 

How does up to a 201% ROI over 4 years sound? That’s what turning your farm into a mini data center can do for you! Join Josh Riddett, CEO of Easy Compute who has been helping the agricultural industry for over 5 years now. He will reveal how to take advantage of the fastest growing industries in the world and earn substantial returns for simply turning on a computer!  

Canopy & Stars, the UK’s leading marketing and booking platform for glamping stays, and Crown & Canopy, the longest established glamping consultancy in the UK, come together to share their expertise and insights about this alternative revenue stream for your land. Learn how to get started on a project like this, why it is a smart business choice, and how it can be a sustainable option that works with other projects and funding opportunities. Join them to see how successful sites perform and to understand the current market trends and best investments that will result in the greatest income. 

Learn how to use AI to grow your business. Easily build out your business strategy, collaborate with AI assistants for your support or create all the content you need for your marketing, communications or even grants

Are you interested in the natural environment, biodiversity, climate change, but not sure where to start?  

Do you know what the potential of your farm is, or even how to find out that out? 

Terry Finch, Technical Director for Agri-Environment at ADAS takes a look at the opportunities out there to do your bit for nature whilst maintaining, or even enhancing, your farm’s productivity. We’ll also discuss how to access the different types of funding available to help you on the way. 

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a broad range of technologies and approaches for growing food indoors without soil - from simple polytunnels, through greenhouses of varying sophistication, all the way to fully controlled vertical farms. But one size does not fit all! In this session you will discover how to fine the right option for your business and markets.

Join Stuart as he examines Labour’s actions in their first 125 days of power, including law changes, creation of energy entities, and their policies on energy and infrastructure. Stuart will also look at what this might mean for landowners, and the opportunities and challenges these policies will bring.  

The presentation will walk through what landowners can expect when working with Aura Power and the benefits and considerations when diversifying their land use into renewable energy projects.

Join Lizzie Berwick, Co-Owner and Media Director of Threefold Media and Clare Otridge, Director at Grounded Research for a session on Media Strategies and Marketing for Agri-Businesses. For both agricultural businesses and those diversifying outside of agriculture, the right media strategy is crucial for success. Lizzie will share her expertise on reaching these new audiences, balancing traditional and digital media, and tailoring campaigns that drive results in these diverse sectors. This session is packed with practical advice for those looking to grow their agri-business ventures through smart, targeted advertising.

Come listen to John and Jack Allwood, a father and son who set up a milk vending business on their Huntington Hall Farm in Cheshire. They will discuss their journey into diversifying the family farm business, the challenges and pitfalls they encountered and how they balanced their business relationship to ensure their personal relationship didn’t suffer as a result!

This session will explore how the adoption of nature and climate friendly land management practices and growing public awareness of the importance of nature for personal and planetary health present an opportunity to respond to growing demand for nature-based visitor experiences and create valuable additional income for your rural enterprise.

Acorus are rural planning and design consultants and in this session James will offer practical advice on planning applications and how to add value to your farm business diversification.

Join Camilla and Carol as they discuss the impact of public rights of way over private land, looking at a landowner’s rights and responsibilities and explaining the latest guidance from Defra. 

Join Lewis Penicott and top industry experts for the essential guide to starting a profitable, hands-free and secure self-storage business. Discover the key steps to turn your spare land into a reliablke and recurring revenue stream

Join Lewis Penicott and top industry experts for the essential guide to starting a profitable, hands ...

The newly launched Tourism Awards recognise those who have made exceptional contributions to the industry by implementing innovative practices, ground-breaking new products and providing sustainable opportunities. There are 12 new tourism awards joining the show for 2024, for event visitors to enter, including farm diversification, attractions, experiences, hospitality, holiday parks, sustainable businesses and more. 

Exploring how Pure Entertainment Group revolutionises festivals, Events, Corporate clients while adding celebrity bookings with our all-in-one service for entertainment. From field to festival, we offer comprehensive solutions for every need, ensuring seamless integration and standout entertainment experiences. Discover how our one-stop shop simplifies planning and elevates your events to new heights. 

Antony will present the results of the annual Farm Diversification Survey, highlighting the key challenges faced by those already on their diversification journey. He will then share valuable lessons learned and discuss the top five solutions to common issues encountered by businesses planning new farm diversification initiatives. 

Hear Louise Newton, Partner at Bidwells, speak on recent changes to permitted development rights and how best to diversify your rural property portfolio. Learn how Class Q, Class R and Agricultural Permitted Development can help you to transform agricultural assets and unlock value on your estate. Louise will also run through a number of case studies, including leisure and tourism, equestrian, commercial and residential redevelopment opportunities, considering the planning requirements, strategy and practicalities of diversification. 

Sarah Wynn, Head of Climate and Sustainability at agricultural consultancy ADAS, will explore what a low carbon farm of the future might look like. Sarah will share the technologies and innovations currently available to help British farmers measure and manage their emissions, and what further developments are needed to help the industry  meet it's net zero objectives.  

Mark Jagger will be talking through the benefits of having B&B pigs on farm he will be covering the topics; conversion of old buildings, new builds, the support to the farmer given by BQP and finally payment structures.

Many farmers are diversifying their businesses to generate additional income - from providing overnight accommodation and wedding venues to setting up outdoor gyms or direct-to-consumer farm shops. In this panel discussion, a range of stakeholders from across the sector will be talking about the benefits of diversification, and how to make it make sense for your farm business. This panel, hosted by the Farming Community Network, will talk about some of the challenges, how to set started, and how to maximise return on investment.

Come and understand how Glampitect can guide you through the initial steps of assessing whether or not Glamping is a viable option for you. Oliver will be taking you through an what is involved in a Feasibility Study and hosting a live Q&A to discuss every aspect of working out whether Glamping is a suitable diversification option for you. 

If you're running paid media campaigns and aren't satisfied with their performance, or if you're thinking about starting a paid ads campaign… you're in the right place. 

Will, Founder and Managing Director at WebBox, has worked with Leisure & Tourism companies for over 15 years. He will share 11 ‘must haves’ for any paid media campaign and leave you with tangible takeaways to help you drive success and improve your conversion rate. 

This content is always popular among marketers looking to take their PPC campaigns to the next level, so you won’t want to miss it! 

Are you content with your website's performance and conversion rates? If not, and you want to improve your website and get the most out of it... you're in the right place. 

Sean, Growth Director at WebBox, has worked with Leisure & Tourism companies for over 15 years. He will share 25 things that your website must have in 2025 and leave you with tangible takeaways to help you improve your website's conversion rate. 

This content is always popular among marketers looking to take their websites to the next level, so you won’t want to miss it! 

Session description - Sometimes improving your business can seem overwhelming. The hospitality industry is going through a fast paced fusion between technology and meaningful personal interactions.  We will share 5 simple things to make your life easier and ensure your business runs fast, efficiently and effectively including connecting sooner through Google and protecting your business from last minute cancellations. 

There are 80m disabled travellers in the market for accessible tourism, 130m when adjusted for senior citizens travelling with family or carers. This hidden market is underserved and presents a huge opportunity for our industry.
Pitchup.com has put together a panel of industry experts and experienced site owners to share brand-new research and practical tips on how to make your site more accessible (spoiler: it’s easier than you think!)

Explore how AI can revolutionise the guest experience in holiday parks, vacation rentals, and campsites. Learn how to enhance customer satisfaction, increase revenue, and optimise pricing through personalised experiences powered by AI insights. 

Explore how AI can revolutionise the guest experience in holiday parks, vacation rentals, and campsites. Learn how to enhance customer satisfaction, increase revenue, and optimise pricing through personalised experiences powered by AI insights. 

Join us for a practical, one-hour workshop on creating and publishing short-form videos to promote your business across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and more. 

What You'll Learn:  

• Video Creation: Bring 2 minutes of footage to edit and optimize for various platforms. 

• Step-by-Step Guide: Follow along with a pre-recorded presentation and live instruction. 

• Real-Time Practice: Leave with a ready-to-post video highlighting your business's USP. 

Discover how to turn every guest interaction into a marketing opportunity! Join Jessica Marson as she reveals strategies for creating a seamless guest journey, from online booking to in-room experiences. Learn how to enhance guest satisfaction, build loyalty, and drive repeat bookings through consistent, personalised touchpoints. 

Join our Dinosaurs and singing puppeteers for some Mesozoic musical madness! 

Enjoy our toe-tapping, tail-swinging numbers and funny, educational, feel-good songs.  

Experience the benefits of Song & Dance Shows and hear how they help children emotionally, socially and physically. And how a little loud roaring is good for your wellbeing! 

Carl will give insight into mitigating your risks when inviting visitors onto your land. He will explain civil and criminal law and the differences, how to put in place ‘reasonable adjustments that are suitable and sufficient’ as the law requires. This session allows safety to enable activities and events as opposed to stopping them.  

Carl has worked on the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and has hosted safety for countless events big and most importantly small! Carl will be taking questions during the session. You will leave with signposting to allow your business to thrive and you to enjoy!  

A session not to be missed! 

Join us for a presentation tailored to address the tax challenges that caravan park owners, lodge park proprietors, and touring site operators face. 

Our event promises an engaging program, featuring presentations from our tax specialists that will cover; 
• The intricacies of inheritance tax and its direct implications on your business 
• VAT within your business 
• Capital Allowances in the Tourism & Leisure Industry 
 
The event will provide an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and information to help your business grow and flourish. 

Discussion and visual impact of entertainment, how it is changing and the push for better guest engagement and experiences that come from thinking outside of the box. Pure Entertainment Group will be discussed as the fast paced leading Entertainment company bringing Turn Key solutions and hitting Bespoke brief for client satisfaction. Q&A will be opened for anyone with questions they are interested in opening up with the company director of Pure.  Screen will be required for slides and footage referenced in the talk. 

In response to increasing threats of terrorism and the urgent need to enhance public safety, the UK government is introducing Martyn's Law, also known as the Protect Duty. Named in honour of Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, this legislation aims to establish a cohesive and robust framework to protect public spaces from terrorist attacks. This session will provide an in-depth understanding of Martyn's Law, its legal implications, and practical steps for effective preparation for Museums, Visitor Attractions, and other public spaces with capacity to host 100+ visitors.

With over 45 years of experience, we can provide expert advice on maximising your income through holiday letting. We'll cover the latest industry trends and present real-life case-studies from landowners we've helped make a profit from diversifying into holiday letting. Suitable for anyone interested in holiday letting, whether you have years of experience or are just considering taking the plunge. 

Andrew will talk about the challenges affecting the sector including some valuable insight from the annual state of the industry survey and also talk a little bit from a personal perspective about running an indoor play business during challenging times, including some of the highlights the industry is experiencing in the post Covid world.

Amplify your attraction's visibility with insights from the pros! Discover the lessons learnt from executing 1,000 ads this summer. 

What You’ll Learn: 

• Essential tips for crafting compelling ads 

• Strategies to broaden your results 

• Proven techniques to thrive in the digital age.

A great opportunity to elevate your digital marketing!

Learn how to turn your land into a renewable energy asset. Steve Cains and PJ Rogers will explore the benefits of forming mutually profitable partnerships between landowners, communities, and renewable energy developers. Discover strategies for long-term success and engage in a Q&A session to address your specific concerns. 

Join us for a presentation on recent tax changes and they will impact your rural/farm/land business. 

Including; 

• Tax in the real world – case law wins and losses 

• How to protect your business from capital taxes 

• Structuring your business to drive higher returns, against a backdrop of higher finance costs. 

 

The event will provide an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and information to help your business grow and flourish. 

Discover how efficient tax reporting can significantly reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint. Understand how tax strategies can help you invest in more energy-efficient systems whilst achieving long-term environmental benefits. 

Consumers have much higher expectations of brands than ever before. They expect businesses to be contactable 24/7 on every communication channel they use, phone, email, Whatsapp etc. Drawing on his 20+ years working in the Customer Service sector, Martin will discuss the rapid changes and advancements in this area. He will explore how brands can get their customer service right and how some are getting it very wrong. 

This year’s booking habits have been as hard to predict as the weather. Join Pitchup.com as they unpack the randomness of it all, pick out the most unusual trends from this year’s nearly 1m bookings, and explain how to use them to your advantage. Time to throw out the rule book!