The AFI’s Best Practice Day held at Plumpton College in East Sussex was a resounding success, bringing together professionals and students from the fencing industry for a day of learning and networking. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

1. Event Overview: The event, organized by the Association of Fencing Industries (AFI) in association with the Agricultural Fencing Association (AFA), aimed to promote safety, quality, and professionalism within the fencing industry.
2. Format: The day featured practical demonstrations by experienced contractors, covering various aspects of fencing techniques and materials. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with others in the industry. The cost of a ticket was £10 and included a welcome hot breakfast roll and lunch.
3. Topics Covered: Demonstrations included techniques for strainers, strutting, turners, and wire work in different conditions. Additionally, there were displays on different types of fencing, such as metal and wood, as well as the use of materials like Deer netting, Horse netting with Horserail, and stock fencing.
4. Trainers: The trainers for the event were experienced professionals, including winners and runners-up of prestigious fencing championships. They engaged with the audience, providing tips, advice, and responding to queries. Huge thanks go to James Corbett, Rob Bell, Charlie Wright, Peter Redgwell, Mark Evans, Nic Quan, Jono Bradley, Rory Samson & Stuart Miles for freely giving up their time to be at this event an
5. Sponsors and Suppliers: The event was sponsored by Tornado Wire and ScanPole, with other suppliers – Lawsons Whetstone, Zedlock, HorseRail and LineSearch Before You Dig also present.
6. Seminar: Attendees had the option to attend a seminar on Business Finance and Estimating, Well-being advice, and a session by Pete Clark, CEO of AFI, who was also freely giving up his time, on the benefits of AFI membership.
7. Attendee Engagement: Attendees came from various parts of the country, demonstrating widespread interest in the event. Reasons for attending ranged from staying updated on new techniques to exploring alternative materials for fencing.

The AFI’s Best Practice Days always serve as an excellent platform for industry professionals and students to learn, network, and contribute to the advancement of the fencing industry.