Newbie Application Terms and Conditions

New Entrant Award eligibility criteria:

• Open to individuals or groups who have begun operating an agricultural holding since 2014
• The business model must have been in place for two years or more (i.e. there must be evidence of the ‘success’ of the business model)
• Any age farmer is eligible
• Must make use of agricultural resources (e.g. care farming, farm diversification actions are included); the business should be primarily located on a farm
• Can be a whole farm approach or new business activity within an existing farm operation (as long as this activity is owned by the new entrant)
• The entrant must be the person running the farm/farm business
• Shortlisted applicants will be required to submit financial figures that demonstrate the financial viability of the business prior to the visit of the judging panel
• Entrants may be required to submit annual accounts for the previous season
• Entrants may be required to submit a budget and cash flow for the current season
• The winners will be required to host a farm event on the property on which they are basing this entry on. Winners will be required to provide information specified by Teagasc/NEWBIE including Key Performance Indicators
• Entrants should be aware that information provided may be made public and that it’s the entrant’s responsibility to ensure their practices & farms comply with all legal requirements including but not limited to: environment, employment, animal welfare, health & safety and other regulations
• Applicants must submit an online application by the closing date of 12 midnight on Monday 6 September 2021

Evaluation criteria

• Novelty/originality of the product, market or service
• Apparent profitability and other societal impacts
• How well does it address the key barriers to new entrants e.g. access to land, labour, markets, finance
• Replicability of the business model by other new entrants

Evaluation process

• Applicants must submit a completed application form by the deadline – videos etc. are welcome but are not required
• Applicants need to register on the NEWBIE registration system at;
  http://www.newbie-academy.eu/membership
• Applicants to be shortlisted by Newbie staff and National Steering Group members
• Newbie staff and Steering Group member(s) will visit the applicant to further assess the application
• Alternative means of evaluation may be adopted by the judging panel where necessary to conform to public health guidelines
• Shortlisted applicants will need to complete an informed consent form when visited
• The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into

Awards

• Awards includes €500 towards training or a (international) farm visit, production of a farm video, a plaque for display on-farm, and the opportunity to attend a Newbie conference with other national winners from across Europe
• Award winners will be showcased on the Newbie web-site and in the national farming press