Guild Member Simon Haley has embarked on a new collaboration to encourage the wider use of social media within the food and farming sectors.
Social Jungle is the brainchild of Simon and Alison Teare (both pictured above), who met when they attended the Challenge of Rural Leadership course in 2015.
Their new company provides social media training and advice specific to the agriculture, food and rural business sectors.
Rural business consultant and communicator Simon is co-founder of AgriChatUK and founder of Farmers of the UK and Farmers of the World on Twitter.
Alison has over 20 years’ experience in business and marketing and was already training and speaking as a social media strategist.
Social Jungle aims to encourage the sector to use social media as a communication tool for networking, business growth and development.
Simon explains: “Social media has the power to influence, inform and engage.
“Never before has there been [such] an opportunity for agriculture and food sector… to engage with their audience, create business opportunities and shape opinion.
“Our aim is to educate, to inspire and instil confidence and to reduce the fear that often affects business owners and organisations that first venture into the rounds of social media.”
Once primarily based around pictures and messages, both Facebook and Twitter have expanded over recent years to embraced other forms of communication.
Changes to both platforms include the introduction of video and live streaming – which Alison says food and farming busineses should harness to their benefit.
Already in 2017, Social Jungle has delivered seminars, workshops and training across the UK, with positive results.
“Providing training and advice to the industry we are passionate about is incredibly rewarding,” explains Alison.
The next training event is at Harper Adams University in November for delegates from food and farming companies, organisations and charities.
