Gerald Banks

Following working as an Adviser in ADAS in the late 1970s we moved to NE Scotland to farm, developing our own consultancy business from 1983.

The business was initially involved in helping farmers with grant applications, including farm woodland creation, and agronomy. I was instrumental in setting up and running the Buchan Machinery Ring between 1988 and 1995, the 4th machinery ring established in the UK.
With the implementation of “Set-Aside” and subsequently IACS we rapidly expanded our business to provide support to many more clients, which, together with further complex grant applications for environmental management & creation, led to our providing advice and support to a client base of in excess of 400 land managers.

During this time budgeting and business plans have been part of our everyday work, particularly providing business plans for SGRPID schemes, including Diversification projects, business development projects, farm purchase and bank budgets.

As Managing Director of Buchan Agricultural Consultants Ltd, I was responsible for managing a team of 8 consultants involved in all aspects agricultural consultancy.

In September 2016, the goodwill of the business was transferred to Davidson & Robertson Ltd, with whom I was employed as a Consultant until 31/08/18, providing ongoing budgeting advice to clients, together with all other aspects of agricultural consultancy.