A specialist risk management service aims to help farms, estates and diversified rural businesses become more resilient at a time of mounting financial pressure.
Launched by farm insurance broker Acres, Acres Risk Management was unveiled at Cereals 2026. It will provide health and safety, compliance and operational risk support tailored specifically to the rural sector.
The move comes as many farm businesses face rising insurance premiums alongside higher labour, machinery and building costs. Reduced subsidy payments, volatile commodity markets and elevated input prices have also squeezed margins.
Claims reduction
Acres said its decision followed a review of client experiences across the UK, which found businesses with stronger risk management procedures in place generally suffered fewer incidents and lower claims activity.
Those businesses were more likely to carry out regular inspections, maintain buildings and machinery, provide staff training and adopt a proactive approach to identifying potential hazards.
The service will be led by Kyle Phillips, a health, safety and risk management consultant who has worked with farms, estates and rural enterprises since 2012.
His experience includes agricultural machinery, livestock handling, forestry, gamekeeping, visitor attractions and construction projects, as well as developing business continuity plans and strategic risk management systems.
Support available through the service includes farm and estate safety reviews, PUWER and LOLER inspections, business continuity assessments, health and safety compliance guidance, risk assessments and ongoing advisory support.
Many agricultural businesses operate in one of the highest-risk sectors in the economy, said Mr Phillips. Those risks are increasing because tighter margins sometimes mean farmers are focusing on profitability at the expense of safety and compliance.
“Rural and agricultural businesses involve some of the highest risks of any sector, yet health and safety is often pushed down the priority list simply because owners are busy running their business and don’t know where to start. Machinery, vehicles, livestock, lone working and even the weather combine in ways rarely seen elsewhere. My role is to help businesses take a practical approach to managing those risks, protecting their people and supporting the long-term success of the business.”
While risk management cannot guarantee lower premiums, Acres believes businesses that actively reduce risk are better placed to minimise disruption, demonstrate good practice and protect long-term profitability.
Practical Support
Nigel Wellings, founder and chairman of Acres Insurance Brokers, said the new initiative was seeking to make risk management more accessible to farms, estates and rural businesses.
“Health and safety can feel like a complex and time-consuming area. Our aim is to provide practical, effective support that genuinely helps businesses manage risk, protect people and strengthen their long-term resilience. Acres Risk Management is not about creating paperwork for the sake of it. It is about providing straightforward advice and support that helps businesses operate safely, confidently and efficiently while protecting the future of the business.”