What people say about The Rural List:
"Thanks for the information. I learnt so much and am now much more confident that I can make this my new career. Thank you!"
"Rural List speakers don't hold back - they tell it how it is."
"Just want to say thank you so much. I found the chat really interesting."
24 June 2023 at Western Arable Grain Festival
Western Arable has been a firm supporter of The Rural List for several years. They have hosted individual service-leavers on work experience days and visits and they always invite us to their annual festival.
Attendees went on guided tours of the experimental Gai plots, were shown around the grain store (more texhnical than you may think) and the lab. There was also a great deal of interesting machinery on show. And the free BBQ was excellent! Thanks Western Arable for another great event.
11 May 2023 at Stroud Brewery
Another sociable and rich networking night held to coincide with the regular "Green Drinks" hosted by Stroud Brewery and the GREAT New Farmers Network (https://www.greatglos.co.uk/event-details/new-farmers-network-social)up
Stroud Brewery is a "B Corporation" and excellent brewer which partners with local farms to develop a local circular economy, produces excellent beer (one range co-produced with RIverford Cottage) and hosts excellent events and music evenings in its on-site taproom.
The Rural List was launched in February 2019 as a face-to-face networking event in Cirencester. Covid-19 forced it online where attendance rocketed. In both formats it met monthly, less in August and December, welcoming a guest speaker to INSPIRE AND INFORM. In 2022, we undertook a review of the demand for a return to face-to-face meetings. This event is being hosted in the spirit of that review.
26 January 2023 at Stroud Brewery
It was wonderful to reconnect with some old friends and hear how they are progressing in their new careers and ways of life.
We also connected with a vibrant Stroud and Gloucestershire environmental and food scene, making invaluable new connections.
9 June 2022 - Rural Surveying / Rural Land Agency
With guest speaker, Jax MacDonald (formerly RAF), now managing a private estate in Wiltshire.
Jax spent a year at the RAU studying for the MSc Rural Estate Management, securing her dream role whilst still on the course. She told us about the realities of the role, including some of the (very) challenging people dynamics she has had to manage.
As ever, it is the people who make any business and sometimes you have to make hard decisions. Some great lessons to take away.
Thanks Jax.
Jax MacDonald (formerly RAF), private estate manager.
14 April 2022 - Self-employment
Warm thanks to Austin Hind (ex-Army) who explained how he has built up a portfolio of businesses and roles, earning more in his first year "out" than he did in his last year "in".
Austin is the proud owner of his two small businesses. He works outdoors, repairing, crafting and restoring traditional Cotswold dry stone walls in the winter and then maintaining tennis courts in the summer.
He also instructs on an outdoor skills course each month, an opportunity which came about when he attended a course at a rural skills centre which had a vacancy delivering another course.
Austin is happy to offer advice and support to anyone considering setting up their own business; you can contact him via Ruralink.
Austin Hind - Drystone waller (ex-Army)
10 March 2022 - ONLINE EDITION
Lovely to have some "old sweats" chewing the cud this evening.
Covered CV writing and cover letters.
Basic summary:
With reference to the person specification, make sure that all the evidence you can muster is in the CV; then explain how you are making up for any deficiencies in the cover letter. eg: course booked, work experience arranged, similar experience in a different industry ...
10 February 2022 - Career Transition Overview and Conservation
Thoughts and discussion on Resettlement Planning and Execution
Great to welcome a new attendee with a really fascinating set of transferable skills and knowledge for the sustainability sector.
With thanks to the RAU Alumni organisation for sponsoring the room.
13 January 2022 - ONLINE EDITION
Lovely to welcome a new attendee as well as one of our originals!
Lots of fantastic information and hard-won experience passed on.
We focussed on making the "Second Resettlement."
This happens a great deal and means you make an original career change to something which looks good on the outside and is maybe recommended by some mates, but once you get into it you discover it really is not for you. Lots of service-leavers find themselves in this position and it can take a great deal of courage and effort to go through it all again. Actually, many people find it is a lot easier the second time - especially if other parts of your life have become more sorted - but it's still difficult.
Ways to avoid getting into this position are establishing a network into possible career sectors as early as possible (2-3 years is not too soon) and then using that network to find some work experience. ie:
Try before you buy!