Workspace training amidst mega agriculture, craft and food

It’s that time again and the Newbury Show 2024 is here!  The autumn equinox brings the Newbury & District Agricultural Society’s “Big Berkshire Weekend” of Farming, Food & Fun, with another fabulous countryside celebration and something for the entire family.

Reflecting its long history, the Show remains true to its roots as a celebration of all things farming.   With more than 30,000 visitors, it’s the ultimate rural showcase of agricultural technology, animals, artisan products, local produce and more.  Alongside, there are displays, exhibitions and “have-a-go” activities, as well as an enormous food hall, craft marquee and rural crafts.  This September’s thunderstorms might have made it a bit soggy but they certainly haven’t dampened spirits – and Kennet Radio has been blasting out some great shows and filling the “Village Green” with fantastic sound.

Among the massive agricultural machinery, craft and food are smaller exhibitors.  And I was fascinated by one of the very smallest, Different Perspective Training, positioned right next to the biggest Claas Western combine harvester I have ever seen.  I talked to Matthew Ilott, its director & lead facilitator.  With clients across London and southern England – including Ramsbury Estate, Action for River Kennet and the University of Plymouth – DPT offers what it describes as pragmatic first aid, mental health and outdoor safety training.

Most of us probably think health & safety is a good thing.  And probably just as many of us find it just a little bit boring.  I asked Matt, with more than 20 years’ training experience, how DPT is different.  He explained that DPT specialises in mental and first aid for people who live and work outside: not just injuries but understanding the pressures being in the outside environment can bring.  In many different ways, people outside can be isolated – maybe up a hillside with a flock of sheep or deep in a wood.  When something goes wrong, the perfect kit might not be on hand.  So, DPT trains improvisation and how to assess if an improvisation (maybe using a t-shirt or imperfectly sterile stuff) is going to be OK.

For those of us who’ve done classic health & safety training, the mnemonics of the classroom – like “look, listen, feel” for breathing – are great but not always so practical outside, where wind and driving rain might mean you can’t hear or even see much.  Outside, a hand on the tummy might be needed instead.

There’s a focus on understanding practical risks – in water training, for example, how to get out of waders in water and hurling a bag-stuffed throwline – but also how to stay out of legal trouble.  Matt told the story of a paddler-boarder in Merseyside, a top-class amateur with expertise in the sport, who invited in a social media post anyone who fancied joining her to come along, and is now in a coroner’s court sorting out who is culpable after the tide changed and three people died.  Did the people who joined in think she’d keep them safe?  For that reason, Kingfisher Canoe Club in Abingdon, a client, make absolutely clear that they are not providing safety cover (implied or otherwise). 

It’s a changing world.  The “golden hour” of yesteryear – the hour a situation typically had to assess and begin to resolve an incident before third parties showed up – has become the “golden 20 seconds” before cameras are out and the details being photographed and posted.  And it’s not always wrong to record an incident if a crime – say, a violent attack – is what is being recorded.  It’s why DPT is constantly evolving.

Just one local business.  Newbury Show lists one hundred different things you could do at this year’s extravaganza.  As well as enjoying the Kennet Radio sound, the contentious “egg & lime” race and the Ramsbury Silver Band, the goat, sheep, cow and guinea pig petting area was a treat and the Education Centre a delight.  In fact, what a fabulous success!

The Newbury Show wraps up on Sunday afternoon – back next year!