Jim studied at Askham Bryan College and came away with a National Diploma in Agriculture. After a stint in machinery manufacture and sales, he was successful in joining the Velcourt management training scheme which took him from Yorkshire into Lincolnshire and then onto Kent.  He returned to Lincolnshire and in 2002 Flagleaf Farming Ltd was born for whom he has worked since, managing a number of farms to individual landowners’ requirements, as well as more recently being responsible for whole estate management. Jim lives near Lincoln with his wife and two daughters and numerous dogs.