Category: News

There was plenty to celebrate last Thursday as a group of ten Bagshaws LLP staff members travelled to Birmingham’s NEC to represent Bakewell Market at the prestigious British Farming Awards 2026.

Hosted by Farmers Guardian and sponsored by Morrisons, the annual event brings together more than 800 farmers and industry professionals from across the UK to celebrate the people, businesses and organisations making a difference across British agriculture.

And, with Bagshaws LLP nominated for the Marts the Heart Award, there was certainly something special to celebrate.

Now in its thirteenth year, the British Farming Awards recognise pioneering individuals and businesses across the farming industry, highlighting achievements in areas including technology, science, food production and sustainability.

The Marts the Heart Awards, now in their tenth year, shine a particular spotlight on the vital role livestock markets and auctioneers play within British agriculture. Auctions are an essential part of the farming industry, bringing farmers together, providing a place to trade livestock and helping to achieve the best possible price for what they are selling.

To be nominated for the award was a huge honour for everyone at Bagshaws, and particularly for the team at Bakewell Market.

While we were delighted to congratulate the eventual winner, we are incredibly proud that Bakewell Market was recognised among the nominees. The nomination is a wonderful reflection of just how much the market means to our staff, clients, farmers and the wider community.

Because Bakewell Market is about so much more than livestock sales.

It is a place where farmers and customers come together each week; where friendships are made and conversations take place over a brew; where people can keep up to date with the latest issues affecting the industry; and where knowledge and skills can be developed through our City & Guilds courses.

It is also a place where people can access support, from calling in to see the agricultural nurse, to taking part in charity events and community initiatives. Most importantly, it is a familiar face and a friendly place at the heart of the local farming community.

That sense of community is what makes Bakewell Market so special, and the nomination is testament to the many people who contribute to making it that way.

For our ten representatives, the evening was also a great opportunity to step away from the market, get dressed up and enjoy a well-deserved evening together – something that doesn’t happen every day!

We would like to thank all our staff for their continued hard work and dedication, for every friendly smile, and for going above and beyond to make Bakewell Market the special place it is.

And, of course, a huge thank you to everyone who voted for Bagshaws LLP and helped us reach the final. It was a pleasure and a privilege to represent Bakewell Market at the British Farming Awards in Birmingham.

We may not have taken home the award, but being nominated has reminded us just how much Bakewell Market means to the people who use it – and that is something we are incredibly proud of.

The totals are in! Bagshaws LLP’s annual Macmillan Coffee Morning, held at the Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell on Friday 2 October, has raised an amazing £2,038 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

This year’s total takes the amount raised by the Bagshaws Macmillan Coffee Morning over the last five years to more than £7,000, which is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the generosity of our clients, colleagues and the wider local community.

There was plenty going on throughout the morning, with coffee and cake sales raising over £600, while the raffle brought in nearly £600. The charity auction raised a further £470, with additional donations totalling £40.

A huge thank you goes to everyone who baked, bought, donated, organised and supported the event. We were once again overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses who donated some fantastic prizes for the raffle, including:

• High Peak Comps
• Tornvalley
• Carrs Billington
• Bakewell Bakery
• Charlottes of Baslow
• The Pet Shop
• Pasties and Puddings
• Longbow Venues
• Taylor Emmett
• Bagshaws LLP
• Better Buys
• Bloomers
• The Cheese and Wine Emporium
• Bakewell Pudding Parlour
• Mad 4 Ink
• The Wool Shop
• Co-op Bakewell
• Hollie Spalton & Fiona Maxey
• Mootiful Milk
• Bakewell Vets
• G&R Leigh Agricultural Supplies
• LLM Vets
• NWF
• The Bull Shed
• RTF & P Marshall & Son
• J Kemp Butchers

We would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated towards the charity auction. The fantastic lots included half a lamb from Ginger Butchers, an afternoon tea from The Bakewell Pudding Shop, two bottles of port from Joseph Walker Enterprises, two tonne bags of logs with delivery from Peter Hunt/Midco Commercials, and a gift hamper from NFU Derbyshire containing produce from local businesses.

A special mention must also go to Andrew Critchlow, who sold a sheep at the Bakewell sale and very generously donated the £340 proceeds to Macmillan.

It is the generosity of everyone involved — from those who donated prizes and auction lots, to those who baked cakes, bought raffle tickets, enjoyed a coffee or simply made a donation — that makes the event such a success every year.

Thank you to everyone who helped us reach an incredible £2,038 for Macmillan Cancer Support and helped take our five-year total to more than £7,000! 💚

We are delighted to share that Emily Mosley, a member of the Bagshaws Farm Office Services Team, featured on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today this week, contributing to an important discussion on the future of England’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

The programme examined England’s post-Brexit farm policy, focusing on the reopening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive and whether the available funding will be sufficient to meet demand from farmers. Following the recent announcement that 75% of the funding available in the first application window has already been allocated, attention has now turned to the second application window, due to open in September.

Drawing on her experience supporting farmers with environmental schemes and grant applications, Emily discussed the current funding position and the challenges many farmers may face.

During the programme, Emily highlighted that approximately 15,000 to 16,000 existing agreements, worth around £400 million, are due to come to an end, while only around £180 million has been allocated for the second SFI application window. This represents a significant funding shortfall and raises important questions about the level of demand that the available budget will be able to support.

At Bagshaws, our Farm Office Services team works with farmers and landowners across the region, offering expert advice on grant applications, environmental schemes, compliance and rural business support. Emily’s appearance on Farming Today reflects the team’s in-depth knowledge and commitment to helping clients navigate an ever-changing agricultural policy landscape.

Listen to the full BBC Radio 4 Farming Today programme here

On Wednesday 3^rd June, Bagshaws closed all of its offices and brought colleagues together at Wild Park near Brailsford for a memorable team day.

With two activities available, teams chose between:

Archery & Painting – Congratulations to Di Brown, Christine Baggott and Olivia Fernihogh for securing the top places. A special mention also goes to Holly Swift, who received the Most Improved award.

Paintballing – With around 15 participants on each team, competition was fierce throughout the day. Everyone embraced the challenge, worked together brilliantly and enjoyed some closely contested games. Congratulations to the Red Team on their narrow victory.

Days like these are a great opportunity to bring colleagues together from across our offices and strengthen team relationships.

A huge thank you to our partners for making the day possible, to everyone who attended, and to the team at Wild Park for their excellent facilities and hospitality.

A day well worth repeating! 🙌

Bagshaws is delighted to announce that two members of its team — Georgia and Fabio — have both successfully passed their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) examinations, earning the prestigious title of Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) with a specialism in rural surveying.

Having celebrated Georgia’s achievement just last week, the team is now thrilled to congratulate Fabio on reaching the same milestone. Passing the APC is a significant professional accomplishment, and both Georgia and Fabio have demonstrated the commitment, determination and depth of knowledge required to meet the rigorous standards set by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

What is the APC?

The APC is the final step in becoming a fully qualified Chartered Surveyor and is widely regarded as one of the most demanding professional assessments in the property industry. Candidates must complete a structured period of supervised practice, compile a detailed record of their experience and competencies, and then face a final assessment interview conducted by a panel of senior RICS-qualified professionals.

For those specialising in rural surveying, the breadth of knowledge required is particularly extensive, encompassing land management, agricultural property, planning, valuation, and rural estate practice.

A Proud Moment for the Bagshaws Team

At Bagshaws, we pride ourselves on supporting the professional development of our team, and Georgia and Fabio’s success is a reflection of the talent and dedication we are fortunate to have within our organisation. Their qualifications strengthen our ability to provide expert rural surveying services to our clients across the region.

Please join us in congratulating Georgia and Fabio on this outstanding achievement. We are incredibly proud to have you both on the team and look forward to seeing you continue to thrive in your careers as fully qualified Rural Chartered Surveyors.

We are delighted to share that Alastair Sneddon, Consultant at Bagshaws and former Senior Partner, was honoured at the High Sheriff of Derbyshire’s awards ceremony, where he was presented with a prestigious award by the High Sheriff, Sir Richard FitzHerbert.

The award recognises Alastair’s great and valuable services to the community, reflecting his longstanding commitment, dedication, and the positive impact he continues to make.

Everyone at Bagshaws would like to extend a huge thank you to Alastair for his significant contributions over the years. This recognition is thoroughly well deserved, and we are immensely proud to see his efforts acknowledged in this way.

We would also like to extend our thanks to Sir Richard FitzHerbert for hosting such a wonderful afternoon.

Photos kindly taken by Luke Taylor.

Bagshaws LLP has launched its 2026 machinery sale season in impressive fashion, with two well-supported February sales delivering excellent results despite challenging weather conditions.

The opening sale took place on Saturday 7th February at Manor House Farm, Sheldon, near Bakewell. In spite of persistent rain on the morning, there was a remarkable turnout, with well over 170 vehicles filling the car park and a large crowd of active bidders in attendance.

The lots were presented in pristine condition around the yard and met with strong demand. The headline item, a New Holland T4-65S tractor complete with MX Power Loader (69 plate), achieved an excellent £23,500. The virtually unused loader bucket realised £420, while the Soft Hands bale squeezing grab sold for £780.

There was also significant interest in smaller machinery. A John Deere 885D diesel Gator (13 plate) attracted competitive bidding before selling at £9,100. Meanwhile, a John Deere X127 petrol ride-on mower, showing just 80 hours, achieved £2,760, rounding off what was described as a cracking start to the season.

Momentum continued on Friday 27th February at Fields Farm, Sutton on the Hill, where a genuine machinery and produce dispersal was conducted on behalf of Mr Charles Buckston. Despite further unsettled weather, the sale drew wide interest from surrounding counties and as far afield as North Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Northern Ireland and North Wales.

With more than 500 lots on offer, bidding remained spirited throughout, including strong telephone competition from Ireland and the North of England. Massey Ferguson tractors led the principal machinery, with the 5475 selling for £27,800, the 4707 achieving £22,000 and the 7614, complete with front linkage and PTO, reaching £27,400. A Massey Ferguson 5455 with loader realised £26,900.

Other notable results included a Honda TRX 520 quad at £5,000, a JCB 532-60 Agri telehandler with under 1,800 hours selling to a strong £55,500 to a North Yorkshire buyer, and a Manitou MLT 735 PSCRC telehandler achieving £18,700. Trailers and equipment were keenly contested, including a West 12-ton mono-body silage trailer at £10,050 and an IAE Centurion galvanised cattle crush at £3,680.

A tremendously genuine sale, setting the tone for what promises to be a busy and successful 2026 season.

For more information on upcoming sales, or if you are considering a machinery or dispersal sale and would like friendly, confidential advice, please contact Mark Elliott on 07973 673092. Early discussions are welcomed and handled with complete discretion.

We are pleased to announce our auction dates for the year ahead, continuing our long-standing tradition of successful property auctions:

• Monday 23rd March
• Monday 18th May
• Monday 20th July
• Monday 21st September
• Monday 16th November

Following a highly successful year, we are looking forward to another strong programme of auctions. Despite a challenging financial climate for some in 2025, there remained a healthy appetite in the market, with plenty of buyers and sellers actively engaging. Across five auctions last year, Bagshaws sold over £10,000,000 worth of property, underlining the continued strength and reliability of the auction method.

Our first auction of the year is fast approaching at the end of March, and now is the ideal time to consider entering your property if you are thinking of selling. We already have several lots confirmed, and the catalogue is shaping up well with strong early interest.

Bagshaws are well established in the auction market and pride ourselves on guiding clients through the process from start to finish. Whether you are considering auction as the best route to sale, exploring alternative methods, or seeking advice on land-related matters, solicitors, or market conditions, our experienced team is here to help. With over 150 years of experience, you can be confident you are in safe hands.

If you are considering selling, we would be delighted to discuss your options and help you make an informed decision.

Yesterday our Bakewell team put their culinary skills to the test in our very own Office Bake Off, and it was a HUGE hit! We had over 13 incredible entries, ranging from delicious savoury bites to indulgent sweet treats.

Each bake was given its own lot number (of course! 😄), and the dedicated Bakewell judging panel took on the tough job of sampling every single one before casting their votes. Not an easy task with so many talented bakers in the office!

🎉 Congratulations to our winners!
🥇 Best Savoury: Ellie Wynne for her outstanding sausage rolls
🥇 Best Sweet: Hollie Spalton for her zesty courgette and lime cakes

It was certainly a close competition – well done to everyone who took part and shared their baking brilliance. Roll on the next Bake Off!