Work is now well underway with the Royal Bath and West of England Society to deliver their Pensions Education Fund project. The purpose of this project is:
- To provide a focus for the provision of information relating to increased financial capability and retirement planning for the agricultural and horticultural sectors in the South West of England
- To encourage people working in the agricultural and horticultural sectors to take action in sufficient time to ensure that they make appropriate provision during their working years for their retirement.
Life Academy have been asked to develop an educational programme with supporting materials based on the needs of the individuals living in the South West of England, including people in their early 50s, women and young people, who are self-employed or employees in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, including agribusinesses, nurseries and other farms. The programme will provide an educational experience, in a workshop setting, to increase awareness of the issues; enable changes in attitudes, intentions and behaviours of people, who often do not have sufficient time to make proper provision or consider their retirement, through developing their financial awareness.
We have carried out a needs analysis exercise with a representative sample of people. This analysis has identified a range of issues on which those in the sectors would welcome information and advice. Some of these issues fall outside of the scope of the Pensions Education Fund project, but our workshops will include information on:
- the retirement and pension landscape
- options for retirement
- choices and how to take action
- the resources available to them in terms of information, advice, support and networking
- reviewing transitions
- increased financial awareness
- business in retirement planning (for owners and tenant farmers)
The workshops need to address the needs of owner occupiers, tenant farmers, employees and the self-employed. We have proposed three different workshop programmes in order to meet the needs of these groups:
- workshops for tenants and owners of farms, nurseries and agri businesses
- workshops for employees
After each workshop has been completed, the attendees will leave feeling they are more empowered and can find a positive way forward. The workshops will take place in September of this year.
