Tag Archive for: BASIS

New BASIS organic farming course dates

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New BASIS organic farming course dates: Organic certifier, OF&G (Organic Farmers & Growers), in collaboration with independent awarding body, BASIS and agronomy advisers, Abacus Agriculture have announced 2022 dates for the newly launched Foundation Award in Organic Farming, following a successful pilot.

Next year’s Harper Adams University accredited level four courses will take place over three days on 18 – 21 January at Stoneleigh Park; Warwickshire, 19 – 22 April at the Great Yorkshire Showground; 19 – 22 July at the Bath and West showground and 27 – 30 September, venue to be confirmed.

New BASIS organic farming course dates

New BASIS organic farming course dates

“We received really positive feedback after the trial in the autumn,” says Steven Jacobs, OF&G business development manager. “Farmers and advisers have a strong appetite to build their knowledge of organic systems and we’ve been taking enquiries for the course already and anticipate good uptake.”

The Foundation Award provides a comprehensive introduction to organic farming and organic legislation; to primarily crop and livestock production, soil management and conversion planning.

George Fletcher, who co-manages Berkswell Cheese, completed the pilot course and notes that with the rise of input costs associated with conventional agriculture, he was looking to make his business more financially sustainable. “The course taught me about practical techniques to help reduce expensive fertiliser and spray use and the clear advantages of bringing livestock into my crop rotation.”

Ian Knight, farm adviser and director at Abacus Agri, adds that this training is not only for those considering organic conversion. “The course is relevant across the agricultural sector. The key principles of organic farming and a natural biological approach to soil, crop, livestock and human health apply to every sustainable farming business and forms the direction of government policy and grant support for agriculture.”

BASIS’ head of business development, Greg Hopkinson explains what candidates should expect from the training and assessment for this course; “At BASIS we are really excited about supporting the organic sector through this new qualification. Candidates will need to combine the onsite training they receive with independent study before taking a written exam which will assess the knowledge they have gained.”

Designed to be a stepping-stone towards more advanced certifications in the future, the Foundation Award provides a comprehensive introduction to organic production which will be complemented by additional courses in the future. To learn more about the Foundation Award in Organic Farming visit www.ofgorganic.org or www.basis-reg.co.uk/training.

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BASIS appoints Teresa Meadows

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BASIS appoints Teresa Meadows: Teresa Meadows has been announced as the head of environment and public affairs at BASIS in a new role for the organisation.

The timely appointment comes after BASIS detailed its plans to deliver training for advisers following the announcement of the proposed Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes.

BASIS appoints Teresa Meadows

BASIS appoints Teresa Meadows

Teresa is BASIS and FACTS qualified and hails from a career background in water catchment management and environmental stewardship schemes. As well as working as a knowledge exchange manager for the AHDB for almost five years, she was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship in 2020.

“In my role I will be responsible for the development of environment-related training and professional development and I will be working in partnership with key industry individuals and organisations,” she says.

Stephen Jacob, BASIS’ chief executive officer, explains that the new role is a result of BASIS’ expansion and continuation to thrive in the industry.

“There’s big changes happening in agriculture and it’s important that we have a team of experts on hand to deliver training to ensure that those who are providing advice are delivering the best possible information.”

Teresa is well-suited to the newly created position with it combining both her area of expertise and her passion for people and professional development. She is looking forward to furthering the suite of BASIS qualifications in this area.

“With the environment, climate and sustainability becoming more important as we experience change in this sector, I am keen to develop new training opportunities for advisors, farmers and land managers and showcase the level of knowledge and expertise that BASIS qualified advisers hold,” adds Teresa.

For more information, or to get in touch with Teresa, please visit https://www.basis-reg.co.uk/team.

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BASIS launches NSK amenity training course

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BASIS launches NSK amenity training course: BASIS are pleased to announce the launch of the NSK Amenity Training Course, a new bespoke course for storekeepers working in industries within the amenity sector, for example lawn care, property maintenance, greenkeeping and sports turf management.

This new qualification has been fully accredited by Harper Adams University and is being recognised by CRD as a Certificate of Competence for any professional storekeeper working within the amenity sector.

BASIS launches NSK amenity training course

BASIS launches NSK amenity training course

BASIS have been successfully delivering training and qualifications for storekeepers working within professional pesticide stores for the past 35 years through our industry recognised Nominated Storekeeper (NSK) Training Course. Not only has this provided storekeepers with the training they require as stipulated within UK regulations and the Code of Practice for suppliers of pesticides (The Yellow Code), but has also allowed professionals to learn the principles of good storekeeping which ensures pesticides are stored in a way which protects the general public, safeguards the environment and avoids the pollution of water.

However, it has been recognised that there is a requirement for a NSK training course which is specifically targeted at storekeepers working within industries such as lawn care, sports turf management, greenkeeping and all other areas within the amenity sector. Ensuring that professional pesticides are stored in a responsible way is extremely important across all industries and anyone responsible for this is required to complete adequate training. However, the current NSK training course did not necessarily meet all the requirements for a storekeeper working within the amenity sector. This new course has therefore been developed to provide the specific knowledge and skills required, focussing on areas such as managing small pesticide stores, mobile storage and the storage of application equipment.

Further information about this course can found in the course information sheet and syllabus which provides details on the course content, training requirements and assessment guidelines. Training courses for the NSK Amenity qualification will be run online starting from August 2021, and each training course is carried out over 2-3 days. If you would like any further information or would like to book any delegates on to a training course, then please visit basis-reg.co.uk/training  or email training.courses@basis-reg.co.uk.

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New recruitment in BASIS team

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New recruitment in BASIS team: BASIS has expanded its workforce with the recruitment of two new employees.

Jade Prince and Tanya Kesterton join the team to take on two new roles as business development executive and head of digital learning, respectively.

New recruitment in BASIS team

New recruitment in BASIS team

Jade has a background in environmental science and is FACTS qualified.

“My role centres around promoting the courses, boosting membership and building the network around BASIS’ target audience”.

As part of her role, Jade wants to focus on raising awareness of the courses that BASIS offers to the younger generation. “I am already working to develop the business through recruitment of new members, creation of new relationships and networking with other industry organisations.”

Reflecting a move towards delivering more digital courses, Tanya Kesterton joins the BASIS team as head of digital learning. With a strong background in education and IT, Tanya is looking forward to building BASIS’ digital education capability.

“I want to look at supporting the current members and work on reaching a wider audience through our digital platforms,” she says.

New recruitment in BASIS team

New recruitment in BASIS team

“BASIS has a really strong vision for what they want to do and where they want to go, and I’m delighted to be part of this journey.”

For more information, or to get in touch with Jade or Tanya, please visit https://www.basis-reg.co.uk/team.

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BASIS announces promotions

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BASIS announces promotions: In a move to support business growth and performance, BASIS has promoted two key members of staff into new roles

Following a career as an arable agronomist, Greg Hopkinson has excelled in his current role at BASIS, and has been promoted to head of business development.

BASIS announces promotions

BASIS announces promotions

“The position sees me managing the new business development and marketing department that encompasses a team working to expand and improve the services we currently offer within all aspects of food production, amenity and land management,” he says.

“I’m proud to be able to promote BASIS and showcase the great work it’s doing for its members and the industry, and I’ll have a particular focus on developing cross-sector relations, whether that be with the food supply chain or areas of livestock production.”

BASIS’ second promotion has been given to Jess Deunert, a longstanding member of the team, who has progressed through the company during the last 10 years.

“During my time at BASIS I developed a passion for digital solutions, design and communication. This set me on a path towards a Chartered Institute of Marketing qualification, which has since enabled me to step up into the role of marketing manager,” she says.

“I’m working closely with Greg to drive and deliver internal and external marketing campaigns with a focus on digital outputs including podcasts and new website features to support our members in their daily roles.”

For more information, or to get in touch with Greg or Jess, please visit https://www.basis-reg.co.uk/team.

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