IT training boost for farmers in Upper Teesdale

A GROUP of five upper dale farmers will find completing farm records a lot easier after receiving IT training.

The training was held at the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (Utass) offices in Middleton-in-Teesdale, and was presented by accountant and farmer Sarah Peart.

Utass training co-ordinator Julia Stephenson said: “We are delighted that funding from The Sir James Knott Trust means that five trainees can make completing farm records much easier.

“Over five weeks during November and December trainees attending the Utass Training Suite will become more familiar with Excel, learning how to input invoices and receipts, check formulae as well as lots of useful information relating to VAT.”

Those attending were given a specially designed Excel spreadsheet produced by Ms Peart.

Sessions are available in:

How to get online – What do I need to know;

Online already and like to know more. How to send and receive emails including attachments;

Using the whole farm approach to access BCMS and VAT online and more;

How to submit VAT online using existing records for working out, or using Ms Peart's Excel VAT training.

In addition Utass has secured £3,000 from the Hedley Foundation which will be used to provide driver training for young people. This is in addition to funding already received from the Wellesley Trust Fund.