AWARENESS amongst the young farming community of SP Energy Networks’ work in rural areas is the key point being made under a new partnership between SAYFC and the energy company.

As part of the year-long sponsorship deal, SP Energy Networks will be joining Scotland’s 3500 young farmers club members at a variety of events, including SAYFC’s annual agricultural and rural affairs conference in November, to teach them about the hazards of working close to electricity on farmland.

The company will also be working with SAYFC to help raise awareness of employment opportunities, including its apprenticeship programmes and graduate schemes.

Across Central and Southern Scotland, SP Energy Networks owns and manages more than 58,000km of cables and over 18,000 substations, many of which are located on agricultural land.

Director of SP Energy Networks, Guy Jefferson said: “In the last year, 730 incidents were reported to SP Energy Networks on farmland involving electricity across the Central and Southern Scotland regions, an increase of almost 40% on the previous year.

"Working near power lines can prove fatal if the right precautions are not taken, and with the increasing height of modern farm machinery, the risks of contacting a power line are very real. It is vital that young farmers are aware of the danger and that they know how to stay safe.”

SAYFC national chairman, Stuart Jamieson said: “This is a topic that has been prominent within the association over the last two years and through increased engagement with SP Energy Networks we hope to continue to equip our members with valuable information to keep them and their colleagues safe”

“This new relationship will see SAYFC and SP Energy Networks offer events, club meetings, online competitions and key messages via social media as well as challenging the SP Energy Networks team at some of our competitions throughout the next twelve months.”