THE Farmers’ Union of Wales is encouraging its Gwent members to make use of funding offered by Farming Connect (FC) as part of their Lifelong Learning and Development Programme.

The aim of the initiative is to deliver a more professional farming and forestry industry, which will be delivered through a combination of direct training and on line e-learning.

The union’s land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “There is a strong call for the farming industry to be more professional and through these training courses we can help ourselves to become more efficient, perceptive and resilient.”

Those interested in applying for funding need to be registered with FC and complete the online personal development plan before they can submit an funding application for completing a short course.

Eligible candidates can submit an application for funding, which could cover up to 80 percent of the cost, between January 4 to January 29, April 1 to April 29 and June 1 to June 30 in 2016.

Those applying for funding for a machinery and equipment course need to complete the online Health and Safety (H&S) course before submitting an application.

Applicants are further advised to speak to their local approved training provider about course dates and obtain course costs and will be notified if funding has been approved or not.

Eligible clients must receive funding approval in writing before starting training, pay the training provider the minimum 20 percent contribution and complete training within nine months once funding has been approved.