Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/464860
29 AGRICULTURE EDITION ANGLIA FARMERS | organisation's geographic reach expand to cover most of the UK. These include industry-leading collaborations with businesses at all stages of the supply chain, such as a membership programme with First Milk, the largest dairy-farmer-owned cooperative in the UK, and offerings for farmers supplying major supermarkets. These fundamental supply-chain links help to strengthen the relationship between AF and its farmer members, and have helped to develop national presence. A vital link in the agricultural community AF collaborates with others to develop initiatives that are benefiting the wider community – an increasingly important role in a fragmented industry. It is the lead partner in EDGE Apprenticeships in Food & Farming, a project funded by £1.4 million from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to create opportunities for young people to start careers in land-based businesses. As well as taking significant steps towards addressing the skills gap in many agricultural businesses, the project is recruiting and training industry ambassadors, who attend events and school workshops to share their experiences of working in food and farming. AF is also involved in a number of projects that will benefit those living and working in the countryside. A campaign to improve digital connectivity in rural areas has seen a bid put forward to government for a test-bed project to improve broadband speed and mobile phone signal coverage. The success of AF has been mirrored in the formation of three group subsidiary businesses: » AF Affinity offers a full range of goods and services to non-members, including the operation of a large number of county-wide fuel schemes. » AF Biomass is now the UK's largest straw-procurement business, supplying power stations and livestock farmers. » AF Finance is an innovative peer- to-peer lending scheme between members, supporting cash-flow requirements. Anglia Farmers is involved in initiatives that will benefit the wider community, including the creation of opportunities for young people to start careers in land-based businesses » A N G L I A F A R M E R S B U S I N E S S U N I T S Fuel » Diesel » LPG » Fuel cards Energy » Electricity » Gas » Renewables Insurance » Healthcare » Dental » General Employee services » Pensions » Group life » Human resources and payroll Machinery and land services » Contract services » Tyres » Wearing parts Livestock » Equipment » Health » Feed General supplies » Office » Building » Vehicle Telecoms » Broadband » Mobile » Landlines Arable inputs » Seed » Fertiliser » Agrochemicals