Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) Course

Our Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) Course is aimed at business professionals working with individuals and businesses in agriculture and the wider land-based sector but with little or no previous background experience or knowledge of it.

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Who is the course suitable for?

• Large organisations
• Land management professionals
• Banking and financial

What you’ll achieve at the end of the course

Delegates will gain a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the complexities and nuances of the agricultural and land-based sectors, enabling them to more effectively perform their professional roles.

A CPD Certificate of Completion

Delegates, on completion, will receive a CPD Certificate of Completion endorsed by the RAU.

How is the course delivered?

We offer our course face-to-face (residentially) and also online (live delivery including a virtual farm visit). A hybrid of face-to-face and online delivery is also available.

We adopt a blended learning approach, combining lecture-delivered theory with discussion of real-life examples and farm visits (physically or remotely), to promote understanding of and engagement with course content amongst delegates.

About the Course Leader

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Since 1983, Tom Overbury has lectured within the School of Agriculture at the RAU, including as a Principal Lecturer. He has previously managed the University’s mixed farms and when not lecturing, runs his own 150-hectare beef and arable farm.

He has extensive research experience in the design and development of various machines and systems for scrub and weed control on conservation grazing sites and is a member of the Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgr.E), vice-chairing the Western Branch.

Apply today

Book now on our online shop here.

• Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) (Online) - 21 - 22 April 2026 - £425 + VAT - taster version length, taking place over 2 mornings
• Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) (Online) - 29 September - 2 October 2026 - £850 + VAT -  taking place over 4 mornings
• Insight to Agriculture (Farming for Non-Farmers) (Residential) - December 2026 (Date TBC) - £1500 + VAT - taking place over 2 days - booking will open shortly for this date. To register interest, please get in touch via our continuing professional development enquiry form or call +44(0)1285 889850.

A 20% discount is available for RAU students and Farm491 members. Find out more about Farm491 membership here.

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If you have any queries or are interested in an exclusive, bespoke course for your organisation, please also get in touch via our above form.

Funding options

If you are looking at grants to cover the cost of attending our course, you may meet the requirements for Gloucestershire Disability Fund's well-being grants which can fund education and training for adults. For more information, visit the Gloucestershire Disability Fund website here.

You may also meet the requirements for Cotswold District Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding. For more information, visit the Cotswold District Council website here.

Stay with us

Located in the heart of the Cotswolds - we offer comfortable accommodation at our Cirencester campus, with free on-site parking and sustainable catering using local suppliers. Find out more about our accommodation and book here.

Terms and conditions

Read our terms and conditions for short courses and CPD training here.

Please read these carefully before booking.