|
Huw
Connick
Land Manager, Ayr Office
Scotland’s rural sector is wide-ranging and
covers a spread of interests, including
agriculture, forestry, food processing and
marketing, tourism and sporting to name a few.
There is proving to be an increasing need for
rural industries to compete effectively for
investment and support. It is also generally
accepted that present and future rural leaders
and managers need to be able to develop their
skills to explain, motivate, influence, promote
and when necessary defend their sector to ensure
it remains vibrant and appreciated in Scotland’s
economy. Countries such as New Zealand and
Canada have benefited from delivering leadership
development to their rural industries for some
time.
In response, the Scottish Rural Leadership
Programme was rolled out across Scotland this
year, by Scottish Enterprise, after a successful
pilot in south-west Scotland in 2006. The aims
of the programme are to develop the skills of
agricultural and rural leaders to enable them to
maximise their impact within the rural sector.
Delegates were selected from wide and diverse
|
|
backgrounds, forming four distinct groups of 15
split geographically; north, south, east and
west. This year’s programme started in April 07
running through to October. The programme
included 11 days of workshop activity plus
individual coaching sessions. All were designed
to enhance leadership skills and improve the
understanding of the policy making process in
the rural sector and I have been fortunate to be
able to take part. During
the programme’s workshops we received talks and
presentations from influential leaders,
politicians and policy makers. A highlight of
the programme was a study tour to Brussels’
European parliament and then onto Westminster.
This was a cram packed study tour where we were
able to get up close and understand how rural
policies and issues were developed and dealt
with on a European level, by the people directly
involved in the decision making. More
importantly we were able to relate the relevance
to the Scottish rural economy and its influence
in Europe. All this in addition to making new
friendships and contacts with like-minded
individuals.
As someone who was brought up into farming in
Wales and worked in a variety of rural sectors,
I can confirm that if you have a desire to
enhance your representation, improve your
professionalism, and participate in creating
better policy for agriculture and rural
Scotland, the SRLP is the ideal opportunity to
learn the skills to do so. In addition, it is an
opportunity to network and make long-term
friendships with others who share a similar
interest and concern about the future of rural
Scotland.
|
|
