Help is at hand for people in the farming and horticultural sectors in the South West with a series of free retirement planning workshops.
Ten workshops will be run in the Autumn across the region aimed at helping people unravel the intricacies of retirement planning.
The workshops are being organised by the Royal Bath & West of England Society in association with Life Academy (a charity that is also an associated institution of the University of Surrey) and Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester. They are targeted at men and women, and young people, either employed or self-employed, landowners and tenants, including those involved in agri-businesses, nurseries and farms that have diversified into areas such as tourism.
Two different types of workshops will be offered – one for employees, and the other for people who are tenants or who own farms, nurseries or agri-businesses.
The workshops will run from 10.30am to 4.30pm, and topics covered will include:
- managing money
- retirement transitions
- succession planning where appropriate, related business issues
- sustainability in retirement
- health and well being,
- motivation and life planning
- taking action.
- signposting on where to go for further advice
These workshops will raise awareness and understanding of retirement planning and financial
issues. Those who attend will be better equipped to consider changes in their attitudes, intentions
and behaviour so that they can more effectively plan and make provision for their retirement.
Dr Jane Guise, the Society’s Chief Executive, said: “This initiative is one of several recent moves
to strengthen even further the Society’s mission to provide practical support to agricultural,
horticultural and other rural businesses in challenging times. It is also very timely given that
retirement issues are increasingly part of the national debate.”
Stuart Royston, Chief Executive of Life Academy said, ‘This is an exceptional opportunity for people in the South West to plan their retirement.’ He added that Life Academy had been enabling people to plan for their retirement for over forty years. Life Academy also runs courses for professionals working in the field of life planning
The workshops are currently planned as follows:
Owners and Tenants
o Wednesday 13th September: Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
o Wednesday 20th September: Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester
o Thursday 8th November: Duchy College, Rosewarne, Camborne, Cornwall
o Wednesday 15th November: Exeter Livestock Centre, Matford Park Road, Exeter, Devon
o Thursday 16th November: East Stour Village Hall, Gillingham, Dorset
Employees
o Tuesday 10th October: Clinton Devon Estates, East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon,
o Wednesday 11th October: Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall
o Wednesday 18th October: Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester
o Wednesday 1st November: Lackham College, Lacock, Wiltshire
o Wednesday 7th November: Cider Farm Lakes, Lympsham, Somerset
If you wish to know more about the workshops, please contact Charlotte Phelps at the Society’s offices on 01749 822227 or via e-mail: charlotte.phelps@bathandwest.co.uk