ABOUT US

We are a small team of training professionals that operate in very diverse fields, essentially as trainers and consultants. We are a very mixed bag!

What can we offer?

We are training providers and instructors. Our main role is that of licensed provider for Lantra Awards – industry specific and nationally recognised short courses for all land-based industries.

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Lantra Awards courses are quality assured, and can be offered as attendance only training, or training with assessment which gives a certificate of competence. We can also provide training leading to NPTC assessment. As Lantra Awards providers we have access to a large UK wide database of top quality instructors, so we can provide courses UK wide, sending instructors local to you, to your venue, anywhere in the UK. We also have venues available in South Wales.

JULIE M THOMAS MBA BSc Hons, Dip ESB, ARAgS,

The consultancy team is headed by Julie, an innovative and creative thinker, who is an accomplished public speaker. She was very successful in the direct sales field-tupperware-, often delivering presentations to conferences of 1000 delegate colleagues. Enthusiastic and Professional, she appears in a corporate P.R. video, and has had many letters and articles printed in both National and Agricultural press, and has featured on several radio programmes.Originally a college lecturer, Julie has a firm foundation in training and is a Registered Instructor in Management with Lantra Awards. In her role as a Registered Tutor with the English Speaking Board (ESB) she delivers training courses and has judged YFC public speaking competitions. Holding the ESB Diploma in Oral Skills in Management, with a distinction in Oral Presentation, is a measure of her ability to entertain and motivate an audience. She holds TDLB D32/D33 Assessor Awards and has  completed her MBA with a thesis entitled ‘Cultural influence on the Welsh family farm affect business and management decisions: can management tools efect cultrure change?’ .She specialises in rural business, and is very active within the Agricultural industry. She has previously delivered consultancy for Agriplan Cymru under the Farming Connect initiative, specialising in diversification and marketing , as well as beef and sheep systems. She is passionate about training the farming industry in Wales and was awarded Lantra lifelong achievement award in February 2023.
Courses Julie delivers:

NICHOLAS HEINS, MSc.

Nick has over 27 years experience in the property / landed profession as a Chartered Surveyor and Auctioneer. However, having a life-long interest in nature, heritage and environmental conservation issues, he took the opportunity in 1997/98 to obtain an MSc in Environmental Conservation Management at the University of Glamorgan.Following this he acquired practical experience in the voluntary sector with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and holds Lantra certificates for Chainsaws, Brushcutters & Trimmers and ATV’s. He is experienced in Horticulture, and Environmental Management, holds First Aid at work certificate, and is an in-house instructor for STB on woodland management, invasive species, and many H and S issues.He joined the ‘Simply the Best’ team in 2000, and supervises and project manages the on going Lantra Awards training programme for our corporate clients. He is a first class instructor who gets involved with the trainees and develops their skills well. He is both popular and is respected by trainees, and his calm assured manner and reliability are greatly valued by all the team members. Our clients value Nicks approach-ability and he ha developed good working relationships with companies over the years.

Courses Nick delivers:
WOODLAND MANAGEMENT FOR CONSERVATION CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES. 

GEOFF THOMAS

Geoff’s practical skills and talents make him an excellent technical trainer. Originally trained as an electrician, he spent many years “on the tools” within the Electrical Industry, and has worked on domestic wiring, street lighting and industrial installation. He was a technician and part time college lecturer until he returned to his Farming roots; he now farms the 300 acres of Caerlan, running a large flock of sheep, many of which are pedigree.

As a farmer he is extremely capable and adept at skills such as carpentry, plumbing, welding, fencing, machinery repair and maintenance, building maintenance, and construction skills. He also has specialist skills such as shearing, dry stone walling and showing stock.

Geoff is computer literate, and is an approved Instructor with Lantra Awards. His skill area covers Tractors, Brushcutters, hedge trimmers,  strained wire fencing and Dry stone walling, Rodent Control and Mole Control.  Geoff’s quiet, unassuming manner and instinctive ability to train and teach gets the best out of novice trainees. Day to day planning and long term management of both the farm, and its use as a training venue, make his dual role of instructor and farmer challenging but fulfilling. He is also office and training centre caretaker and Janitor!

Away from work Geoff was a School Governor at Williamstown Primary School, and post Chairman of the South Wales Mountain Sheep Breeders Society. In addition, Geoff regularly stewards and judges competitions within the Young Farmers Movement, and is a past County Chairman of Glamorgan YFC.

Courses Geoff delivers:

RHIDIAN THOMAS

Our newest member of the team is Rhidian Thomas. A qualified Engineer in heavy plant and machinery is the background for him training towards becoming a Lantra Instructor. He facilitates the courses held at Caerlan, and was a very active member of Llantrisant Young Farmers Club. He has represented his club and county at Strained Wire Fencing, disco dancing, Senior debate, folk dancing, ATV handling, Woodwork, Mime , Acting, Comedy, and is a member of the winning National choir competition 2014.

He has travelled abroad and spent time working on the Canadian Government Salmon Tagging programme, as well as travelling to New Zealand, and Hong Kong. Rhidian is an ATV instructor, and Tractor instructor. He has worked at Hewden, JG Plant, JCB, Royal Pontbury dock as a heavy plant engineer, and has now returned to his farming roots as Estate Manager at Coedarhydyglyn in the Vale of Glamorgan, where he is using his chainsaw skills and tractors on a regular basis.

Courses Rhidian delivers:

MICHELE is a computer and software trainer, who runs the invoicing and anything technical at Simply the best. She is head of IT department, and attempts to keep Julie on track with technical issues, which is not the easiest of tasks!

Tammie Edgecombe BA HONS who joins us as our newest addition to the team heads up all things WEB and marketing related here at Simply The Best Training. Working part-time alongside running her own ‘Small Business’ offering personalised goods for all occasions at ‘The Personal Touch by Tammie’ and raising her two small children.

RACHEL BLAKEMORE rescues Julie by formatting Excel spreadsheets and anything finance related, while working for local auctioneers and land agents HRT.

Our Lantra Regular Trainers:

BARRY LYONS is our lead Lantra Instructor for Chainsaws, Brushcutters and Hedge Trimmers; but he also delivers ATVs and 4×4 Driving. He hails from the Llyn Peninsular and STB is his southern office! He is an exceptional trainer, whose professionalism is inspiring.

CRAIG IRELAND is our top man for Pesticides Training, but he also does Mowers, Tractors, ATVs and loads of other things! Craig is also consulted by Industry groups, he has a vast wealth of knowledge and expertise.

JAMES ARCHER is top of the tree – Chainsaws on the ground or at height, he’s your man! He also delivers Woodchippers and Brushcutters.

JILL AUSTIN is our Advanced Driving Instructor – ATVs, 4×4 Driving, Trailers . . . . If it’s got wheels then Jill is your girl! Firm and professional, she uses her advanced driving skills to methodically coach her trainees.

STUART FRY is our Lantra instructor for Dry stone walling and all environmental courses. His expertise in these fields is renowned, and his work is often featured in the Western Mail. Stuart brings realism and humour to his training.

CHRIS DAVIES is our Lantra Pesticides assessor, quiet calm and methodical in his approach.

STEVE LAWTON is a new member to the fold, works extremely well with voluntary groups, and very experienced in Mowers, brushcutters and Tractors.

JOHN BEVAN is a multiskilled Instructor who can turn his hand to anything arbo and fills in on chainsaws to chippers, and millions of other things as well.

Brian Rees is out go to man about Health & Safety, Lift trucks and Pesticides.

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