The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) has launched a dedicated Entrepreneurs Club to bring together former participants of its long-running Entrepreneurs in Dairying (EiD) programme and support ongoing development across the dairy sector.
Building on the success of the EiD programme, the RABDF Entrepreneurs Club creates a network for former course delegates, offering ongoing opportunities for learning, collaboration and peer-to-peer support.
RABDF Chief Executive Hayley Campbell-Gibbons said: “This new Club is an exclusive network open to all delegates of the Entrepreneurs in Dairying Programme over the last 14 years.
“Those who have been through the programme keep telling us they want more; that the learning and networking EiD offers shouldn’t stop when the programme ends. With the launch of the Club, we’re meeting that need. The Club will deliver something genuinely valuable and unique that supports aspiring dairy producers and those looking to further their careers in farming as they build, manage and grow their businesses.
“It will also open up opportunities for members to gain board-level experience within the industry, should they wish, helping to further develop governance, leadership and strategic skills,” she added.
The initiative forms part of RABDF’s wider strategy to support progression in the dairy industry, opening channels for sharing knowledge, learning through experience, promoting excellence and supporting the development of future industry leaders.
RABDF Vice-Chair, Tim Downes said: “The Entrepreneurs in Dairying programme has supported almost 500 aspiring dairy producers since its launch in 2012, delivered in conjunction with The Andersons Centre, AHDB Dairy and the NFU.
“So many dairy farmers, myself included, have put members of their team through the programme, it will be fantastic to reconnect this network of farmers to learn more about their journey and career development since they completed the programme.”
One of those former delegates is Andrew Edwards, who completed the programme in 2025. He said: “The networking was unbelievable and the programme opened so many doors for me. Since completing EiD, I’ve secured a contract farming agreement and continue to benefit from the contacts and opportunities it created.
“The Entrepreneurs Club will be a fantastic way to keep learning, sharing ideas and supporting like-minded people across the industry.”
