Speakers from Crediton Milling recently ran a staff management seminar, stressing the importance of staff on farms.

The workshop, entitled 'The People Cycle', focussed on three fundamental areas of how to recruit, keep and develop staff.

Communication, recruitment and empowerment were the subject covered in depth by guest speaker Paul Harris, and employment consultant at Real Success.

A spokesperson said: "Paul impressed upon the delegates the importance of communication and that it starts by listening.

"The group performed tasks which demonstrated to them how we hear so much yet actually listen to so little.

"Paul stated 'when most people are listening they are only really waiting to speak'.

"He showed the team some simple techniques that enabled them to collect and process lots more information than they could before.

"One such technique was to repeat what you were being told in your head.

"This focuses your mind and enables you to get engaged in the conversation.

"As the profiling would outline later, some personalities struggle to stay interested in detail but for the sake of communication with your team, truly listening to them is critical.

"Paul then covered the many reasons why recruitment can be so difficult, how the process is improved with good advertising and interview methods and that many would benefit from learning how to professionally conduct an interview."

Paul said: "“Many famers will find themselves as the interviewer but with barely any experience let alone training in such a pivotal area to their business.

“It is a great starting place, but to truly harness your staff you need them to be aligned to your business."