Business support

Business support for farmers and growers in Scotland:

• Producer membership
  Soil Association producer membership gives you unlimited and ongoing access to our full range of support services.

• Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society  (SAOS)
  Scotland's experts on co-operative and collaborative strategies, structures and management. They provide a comprehensive range of development and consultancy services, supported by The Scottish Government
   
• Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)
  The SAC organic farming website is a free information resource for organic farmers and for farmers thinking about converting to organic.
   
• Scottish Government 'Organic web site' 
  The Scottish Government has worked with stakeholders through the Scottish Organic Forum to develop an Organic Action Plan (published March 2011). The Action Plan reflects the shared agenda for the sector, with actions being taken forward by all parties concerned with growing the organic food and drink supply chain in Scotland.
   
• Scottish Rural Development Programme  
  The SRDP is a programme of economic, environmental and social measures, utilising some €680m of European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development funding plus Scottish Government match funding.

• Scotland Food and Drink
  Scotland Food & Drink, established in 2007, is a not-for-profit organisation that was created to guide food and drink companies of all sizes towards increased profitability.

• Farmers Weekly Awards 2013
  The Farmers Weekly Awards recognise and reward farmers for innovation, commitment to the industry and hard work. The Awards showcase the best farmers in the country by telling their stories. They aim to spread best practice, inspire others and influence the public about the role that farmers play in today’s society. The Awards are in their eighth year and are sponsored by some of the biggest names in the industry. The 2013  Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 3 October 2013 at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London W1K 7TN. Deadline for entries is 30th April 2013. Tips for entering: click here.

• Grampian Food Forum Innovation Food Awards 2013
  Entries are welcomed for the 23rd annual Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards, which rewards food and drink companies based in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Moray for their new product innovations. Winners will be announced by Mr Peter Bruce, Managing Director of Entier Limited, at the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards Presentation Dinner at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, Pitfodels, Aberdeen on Thursday 21st March 2013.

• RSPB: Nature of Scotland Awards 2013
  The Nature of Scotland Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in Scottish nature conservation. Scotland is renowned worldwide for its beautiful wild places and abundant wildlife. We must work hard to preserve this precious natural heritage, celebrating success stories and protecting that which is under real threat. This is the second year of the awards -- there were more than 90 outstanding entries last year. The Nature of Scotland Awards opened for entries on 14 November 2012 and close on Friday 15 March 2013. Entrants will find out if they have reached the shortlist on 18 June at the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament.

• RSPB: Nature of Farming Awards 2013
  The annual RSPB Telegraph Nature of Farming Award celebrates the fantastic work farmers are doing for wildlife - with a top prize of £1,000 for the very best! It is the UK's biggest farm wildlife award, and 2012 was the biggest yet, with more farmers than ever before entering the competition. The Award is open to all farmers, whatever their farming system. It isn’t about having the rarest species, or the greatest biodiversity, it’s about doing positive work for wildlife. If you're a farmer and interested in entering this year, click on the above link.

• Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2013
  The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, run in partnership with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, have been recognising and rewarding the very best in Scottish food and drink for many years. 17 awards recognise excellence in products and businesses across a diverse range of areas including skills, research and sustainability. Product awards range from healthy eating and foodservice to seven retail categories. The awards open for entries on Wednesday 23rd January 2013 and close on Friday 29th March. Entry is £25+VAT for members of Scotland Food & Drink and RHASS, £45+VAT for non-members. Paper judging will take place in April, the awards shortlist will be announced at the beginning of May following the tasting and the awards ceremony itself will take place on Thursday 30th May at The Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Tickets for the event are available to buy from Linda Chirnside by email: linda.chirnside@scotlandfoodanddrink.org or phone 0131 335 0940. Additional queries should be directed to Sophie Fraser by email: sophie.fraser@scotlandfoodanddrink.org or 0131 335 0952.