Thousands of farmers looking to maximise the money-making potential of their land will flock to Birmingham’s NEC on November 6 & 7.

The Farm Business Innovation Show is Britain’s biggest event dedicated to providing farmers, landowners, estate owners and rural entrepreneurs with the inspiration, advice and resources they need to diversify their rural business.

Now in its seventh year, the event will see 500 exhibitors fill the hall, 200 seminars covering a multitude of topics, and expert-led panel debates – combining to create an unmissable event, with thousands of ideas for farmers to introduce new income streams through their land and rural business.

The venture into rural diversification requires so much more than just a good idea, and to thrive you need to have clear plans, goals and confidence in your choices. Considering aspects such as planning laws, marketing & PR, your online presence as well as your own and your staff’s skill sets are essential when starting or growing any new venture; whilst at the same time keeping your enthusiasm and values, ensuring your goals stay in sight and your business is a continuing success. Finding the answers needn’t be daunting, you just need to know where to look.

Diversification in the rural sector is a vital way to keep traditional methods of income viable in an unstable economic climate. By turning a portion of land towards an alternative stream of income, the traditional business is able to continue running with the support of additional revenue. This can be anything from turning one field towards renewable energy, setting up a vineyard or turning out buildings into a contract winery, offices or accommodation, to opening a glamping or camping site.

The possibilities for making extra income alongside harvesting crops and keeping cattle really are endless. Farm diversification enterprises made a total of £580 million in 2017, 32% of the total farm business income!

The aim of the Farm Business Innovation Show is to offer advice and resources for every step of the diversification process, all under one roof. This means everything from the first initial spark of an idea, to the supplies and logistics required to build it into a full-fledged success. Inspiration can be found around every corner of the venue, delivered through case studies from industry experts who have gone before, or discovered by wandering through the aisles and seeing the latest innovative technologies and products that are changing the landscape of rural business.

Inspiration for an idea is of course only the first step towards branching into a new revenue stream. The Farm Business Innovation Show therefore also provides answers and solutions to the more logistical steps. Rural businesses will be able to take their pick from over 500 handpicked suppliers who have everything you need to build your perfect diversification project. On top of this, experts are on hand for everything from planning permission and tax advice to marketing and PR, the Farm Business Innovation Show has every rural business covered every step of the way.

Our CEO Dr Alistair Nesbitt will be at the event giving a key note speech on ‘Grape Growing & Winemaking – opportunities in the viticulture sector’. Grape growing and wine production is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the UK. Come and hear about the opportunities & risks in this growing sector.

Your free ticket to the Farm Business Innovation Show will also give you full access to the related shows running alongside: Country House Business Innovation, Holiday Park & Resort Innovation, and Family Attraction Expo. As always, the shows bring together all the tools, resources and advice you need to put your rural business on the map in one of the most vibrant, dynamic and competitive sectors in British business.

Running on the 6 & 7 November 2018 at the NEC Birmingham tickets to attend the show are free, visitors just need to register via the website www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk.