22nd - 23rd February 2012 - BCFTA Trade Awareness Course   Held at Sites visited in Bristol, Royal Portbury Dock, Devon and Somerset     TRADE AWARENESS COURSE takes place on the 22nd & 23rd February 2012 The BCFTA Trade Awareness Course is designed and intended to provide an opportunity for employees of Member Companies to gain a fuller understanding of the industry they work in. By providing an opportunity to view a cross section of the Trade along with presentations by people directly involved in the agricultural feed/food chain. This allows the individuals taking part in the Course to develop their knowledge by viewing, experiencing other businesses and by discussion with one another. The Trade Awareness Course is a residential Course and takes place over 2 days. DRAFT PROGRAMME Over the two days of the course we plan to cover the following subjects and visits subject to time and availability : A Presentation on the Corn and Feed Trade and its links with agriculture and the consumer. A Traders view of the import/export and storage of grain and feed raw materials and how they fit within the Agricultural and Energy Industries. A visit to the Bristol Port Company Bulk Terminals and Storage Facilities which covers both export of grains, import of grain & feeding stuffs and a third party blending facility. A visit to BOCM Pauls Mill, Portbury and a discussion on compound feeds, their uses and makeup. A visit to SvG Intermol Terminals at Avonmouth. Presentation on Molasses and its usage and storage. A presentation on Formulation, Rations and requirements for Quality of Raw Materials for the production of animal feed, by Mole Valley. The principals and skills associated with trading and market making. The role of a regional grain company covering storage and marketing. A visit to Alvis Bros Integrated Farm. Discussion on the concept of integration within farming and collaboration in the overall supply chain. A tour of a modern purpose built Cheese Dairy, Packing Hall, Cheese Store and Farm Shop. A visit to a New Dairy Unit and discussion on its operation. Discussions about Quality Assurance in the Food Chain. Please Note: This course will start at 9.00am on the Wednesday and will not complete until 5.00pm on the Thursday.   1st March 2012 - What are the priorities for a sustainable UK food & drink industry?   Held at University of Reading     ‘What are the priorities for a sustainable UK food & drink industry?’ A ‘Question Time’ style event – your chance to ask questions of an expert panel Thursday 1 March, 2012 at 7.00pm The Nike Lecture Theatre, Agriculture Building, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, University of Reading The Panel • Fraser Buck – Manager, PepsiCo UK & Ireland (Reading graduate) • Mike Gooding – Director, FAI Farms & Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference, 2013 • Stuart Thomson – Partner, European Food & Farming Partnerships • Neil Wharton – Business Development Director, Genus PLC • Tom Windett – Relationship Director, Barclays bank Chair John Giles, Divisional Director, Promar International, Chair, Food, Drink & Agricultural Group of the CIM. Chair, Institute of Agricultural Management, Thames Valley Branch Admission Students - Free IAGM, FDA CIM Members & academic staff - £5.00 Non-Member - £7.50 Refreshments provided afterwards Please pre-register for this event by emailing Fran Ayling ( f.ayling@reading.ac.uk ) stating your name, status and organisation to help with our arrangements for the evening.   8th March 2012 - BCFTA Ex Com Meeting   Held at Exeter Rugby Club   18th April 2012 - Bristol Corn Trade Guild Lunch and AGM   Held at Shirehampton Golf Club   16th - 17th May 2012 - Trade Awareness Course   Held at Bristol, Devon, Somerset     Please note this date is a provisional one   23rd May 2012 - BCFTA Spring Event and AGM   Held at to be confirmed but put the date in your diary   14th June 2012 - Ex Com Meeting   Held at Bridgwater   18th - 19th July 2012 - Trade Awareness Course   Held at Bristol, Devon, Somerset     Please note this date is a provisional one   25th July 2012 - Corn Trade Guild Garden Party   Held at Portbury     With the Holly House Jazz Band   13th September 2012 - BCFTA Ex Com   Held at Portbury   2nd - 5th October 2012 - Study Tour   Held at Scotland     This years BCFTA study tour will be to Scotland and include the European Bourse that is taking place in Edinburgh. Gafta in co-operation with the Scottish Corn Trade is organising and hosting the 52nd European Commodity Exchange in Scotland. The European Commodity Exchange will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Friday 5th October 2012. The Edinburgh International Conference Centre is a purpose-built centre and offers excellent facilities and technology, a truly world-class venue in the heart of Scotland’s beautiful city and it is anticipated that 2,000 people from around the world in attendance. The ECE is an essential annual event for the grain trade, providing a face to face opportunity to meet all interests in the grain trade; bringing people together and getting them talking. For keen golfers attending the ECE, a day’s golf tournament has been arranged at the Luffness Golf Club for Thursday 4th October. In addition a Gala Dinner is being held on Thursday 4th October, and will be held at the new National Museum of Scotland, which is in the middle of the old town, Chambers Street, minutes from the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.   24th - 25th October 2012 - Trade Awareness Course   Held at Bristol     Please note this date is a provisional one   8th November 2012 - BCFTA Bristol Dinner   Held at Bristol     THis years dinner will be held on Thursday 8th November 2012 and as last years dinner was a sellout some weeks befor the event early booking is recomended.   5th December 2012 - Corn Trade Christmas Lunch   Held at Shirehanpton Golf Club   11th January 2013 - BCFTA Ex Com   Held at Portbury   For information on the above events or any activites of BCFTA contact Richard Cooksley on 01275 373539.