ONE of the UK’s foremost farming industry consultants is heading north next month to discuss its prospects.

Richard King, partner and head of research at The Andersons Centre, will be speaking at a seminar hosted by Hay & Kilner Law Firm’s specialist rural department on May 14, at the Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park ground.

His talk will cover a wide range of topics, including the overall financial health of the UK farming industry, particular issues affecting the arable, diary and livestock sectors, and the future evolution of the sector’s regulatory environment.

Established in Leicestershire almost 50 years ago, The Andersons Centre provides economic, policy and market analysis to around 2,000 rural businesses.

Born into a farming family himself, King has been with The Andersons research team for more than two decades. He provides specialist business research training and briefings for a wide range of agricultural clients right across the UK.

He is also a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers and a member of its Farming & Environment committee.

“Agricultural businesses of all sizes and type have a lot of common operational issues to address,” he said. “Including profitability, returns of investment, financial planning, diversification and succession planning.

“We’re also on the verge of the biggest change to the industry in decades, but while the precise implications of Brexit aren’t yet clear for the farming sector, there are a number of policy areas where we can see change coming and can therefore prepare to manage it.”

He aimed to share some of the practical experiences of industry peers and to offer his considered insight into the future prospects for the agricultural sector, all of which would “hopefully help rural businesses in the North-East enhance their operations”.

Alison Hall, partner and head of the agricultural and rural division at Hay & Kilner Law Firm, said: “This is the first time for more than a decade that a representative from Andersons has come to the North-East to speak – we’re extremely pleased to be bringing Richard up to our region to share his wide-ranging agricultural sector knowledge.”

Places on the Prospects For UK Agriculture seminar are free of charge, but must be booked in advance by ringing (0191) 2328345 or going online at www.hay-kilner.co.uk/events.