CHALLENGING BLACK AND WHITE THINKING IN AGRICULTURE
Register your interest and I'll let you know when there's a course near you.
Most farm business problems aren't really about the farm. They're about the conversations that aren't happening, the decisions that keep getting avoided, and the tension that builds up between the people who care most about the place. GRIP is a practical, evidence-based workshop that helps farmers and farming families tackle exactly that - the human side of running a business that also happens to be your home, your identity, and your legacy.
You can't control milk prices, policy changes, or the weather. But you can control how you communicate, how you make decisions, and how you lead the people around you. That's what GRIP is about - the stuff that actually makes the difference between a farm that survives and one that thrives.
GRIP stands for Goals, Reality, Insights, Planning. It's a structured approach to farm business change that starts with the people, not the spreadsheet.
The workshop draws on behavioural science and positive psychology, but don't let that put you off. It's delivered in plain English, face-to-face, by people who understand farming because they come from it. No corporate jargon. No PowerPoint death. Just honest, practical tools you can use the same week.
A full day with a small group of farmers. You'll think differently about your farm business by the time you leave.
Learn to navigate disagreements about succession, investment, or daily decisions - and turn conflict into progress.
Create a clear direction your family and team can understand, support, and actually follow.
See the patterns and habits that are holding you back - and learn how to break them.
Learn to figure out the cause of resistance and difficult behaviour in others, so you can change how you handle it.
Walk out with clear, actionable steps to move your business forward and get the joy back into your work.
There are plenty of farm business courses out there. Most focus on the technical side - agronomy, finance, compliance. GRIP is different because it focuses on the bit nobody else touches: the human side.
Change on farms fails not because farmers lack knowledge, but because the people involved struggle to communicate, agree, or get out of long-standing patterns of behaviour. GRIP gives you the tools to understand why that happens - and what to do about it.
It's not therapy. It's not a leadership course. It's practical change management for farming businesses, grounded in real farm life.
How long is the workshop?
GRIP is typically delivered as a full day, typically 10am to 4.30pm, with a small group of up to 20 farmers. .
Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?
No preparation needed. Just come ready to be honest with yourself and have an open mind. The workshop is conversational and practical - there's no prior reading or homework required.
Will I leave with something tangible?
Yes. Every participant leaves with a workbook and a clear, written next steps for themselves and their farm business. You'll also get access to a follow-up online check-in session after the workshop.
Is GRIP only for farm owners?
Not at all. GRIP is for anyone involved in a farming business - that includes farm managers, successors, spouses or partners who work on the farm.
How much does it cost?
GRIP is available at an accessible price thanks to the generous support of the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust. Prices vary depending on who's hosting the course, but currently, it's never more than £100 to the farmer.
