Ringlink Scotland Ltd 2023 Handbook

MEMBERS HANDBOOK

2023

COVER

Rely on Ringlink for services, support & solutions

WHY USE THE RING OWNERSHIP: THE PREFERRED OPTION BUT…

OPTION 01

• Do I have enough acres to justify it?

• Do I have the staff to operate it?

• What about unexpected breakdowns?

• Can I finance it?

USE A CONTRACTOR OR NEIGHBOUR BUT… • When will they get finished with their own crops?

• Will they honestly tell me when they will arrive?

• What about unexpected breakdowns?

• Will I be charged a fair rate?

OPTION 02

THE BEST OPTION: RELY ON RINGLINK…

OPTION 03

• A large choice of suppliers • A large choice of machines • A replacement if a breakdown occurs • Fair rates • Multiple machines available • New system evaluation • Third party arbitration • A chance to earn extra income yourself • Large organisation • Save ££s

HOW WE WORK 01

Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd is a rural business co-operative, owned by its members and managed on behalf of them to provide a cost-effective platform for efficient member-to-member trading.

We operate the business with transparency and by embracing the core values of integrity; teamwork; providing a high quality service along with a “can do” spirit to our membership.

Subscription Annual subscription of Agri-Businesses: £160.00 plus VAT Labour Only (Self Employed): £50.00 plus VAT Share Purchase on Joining £50.00 made up of 50 x £1 shares

Commission rates SERVICE

DEMANDER LEVY

SUPPLIER LEVY

1/2% 1/2% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2%

1/2% 1/2% 1% 1% 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 2%

Spraying inc. Chemical Oil Seed Rape Fuel Fertiliser Malting Barley Feed Barley/Wheat Lime Chemical Supply Land Rentals Stockfeed/Straw/Hay All Other Ring Services

3

CONTENTS 01

INTRODUCTION 2022 STATS AT A GLANCE NEW TRAINING FACILITY

6 10 12

02

SERVICES AND PRICE LISTS PLOUGHING/CULTIVATING /SEEDING SPRAYING/FERTILISING FORAGING/ BALING /WRAPPING CEREAL HARVESTING/BALING ROOT CROP/VEGETABLE SERVICES ROOT CROP/VEGETABLE SERVICES TRACTORS/LOADERS/FORKLIFTS/ROAD HAULAGE MUCK/SLURRY SPREADING/LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT MISCELLANEOUS/MAINTENANCE COMMODITIES LABOUR/PROFESSIONAL SERVICES MEMBER SURVEY FEEDBACK

15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39

03

BEING AN EMPLOYER - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NATIONAL LIVING WAGE EMPLOYING YOUNG PEOPLE LAND BASED PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PRE-APPRENTICESHIP CLASS OF 2022 FORESTRY PRE-APPRENTICESHIP GETS UNDERWAY MODERN SLAVERY ACT ILLEGAL WORKERS GANGMASTER & LABOUR ABUSE AUTHORITY (GLAA)

41 46 49 50 54 58 60 62 64

04

TRAINING COURSES TRAINING CONTENTS FORESTRY ARBORICULTURE UTILITY ARBORICULTURE PESTICIDES PLANT & MACHINERY ATVS & OFF-ROAD DRIVING FIRST AID DRIVER CPC HEALTH & SAFETY SPRAYER OPERATOR FORKLIFT TRAINING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR PROFILE

67 69 71 74 77 79 84 85 87 89 91 93 95

4

05

REFERENCE 97 MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING 98 HEALTH & SAFETY 99 NEAR MISS REPORTING 100 WORKING WITH MACHINERY 102 REDUCING THE RISK 103 VEHICLES & DRIVING - AGE RESTRICTIONS 105 VEHICLES & DRIVING - HAULAGE 109 VEHICLES & DRIVING - IT’S THE LAW 110 CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS 111 SAVE MONEY ON BUSINESS UTILITIES 112 WATER 113

06

ABOUT RINGLINK METHOD OF OPERATION A BRIEF HISTORY OF RINGLINK MEET THE BOARD PICK-UPS FOR PEACE THREE NEW DIRECTORS MEET THE TEAM PROTECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION CONVERSION CHART CALENDAR NOTE OF THANKS

115 116 124 126 128 129 130 133 135 140 141

01 INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the 2023 Ringlink member’s handbook.

Traditionally, we take this opportunity to look back at the previous year and look forward to what this one might hold.

To be honest, there is so much going on it is hard to know where to start.

It is a huge relief that the pandemic is no longer dictating our lives and thankfully we are now back to some degree of normality and face-to-face contact. Thankfully the harvest last year was early, with good weather keeping drying costs to a minimum, and with good yields and prices for cereals.

A shortage of labour has also brought growing wage bills and the need to look even harder to find the right people to employ.

But alongside harvests growing are all the growing costs.

With so much uncertainty surrounding future industry support, tough times remain and your membership of Ringlink has never been so important to help you in these challenging times.

What’s more, the economic pressures facing our members look like they will be with us for some time.

Whether the cost of fuel or fertiliser, or rising energy bills, many members have been left with the uncomfortable feeling that they are no longer farming but playing high stakes poker with a rapidly diminishing pot.

6

Facing the challenge in the lack of skills and shortage of experienced personnel, Ringlink continues to invest in not only the preSo how is Ringlink supporting you? apprenticeship Programme for young entrants We have been getting on top of managing the increasing demands and pressures associated to the industry but we also act as ambassadors on your behalf by attending the Skills for Farming with managing the electricity contracts group and the NFUS Education and Skills provided by npower. We can help you manage your utilities contracts with the buying power of working group meetings throughout the year. a co-operative, despite a rocky ride in Our new training centre next to our recent months. headquarters in Laurencekirk is helping fill the skills gap with hundreds of fully accredited We continue our work providing a voice for specialist courses available through Ringlink you as we lobby and feed in to updates to Services.

Scottish Government on industry matters and concerns, as well as respond to consultation papers such as the recent Agricultural Bill and There’s a purpose-built workshop there for chainsaw and arboriculture training, alongside the Independent Skills review led by James a simulator, designed for introductory training Withers. for both agricultural and construction courses: a safe and cost-effective way to develop skills.

HOW WE HELP

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

7

01

HERE’S A BRIGHT IDEA.. let Ringlink manage your electricity WE CAN OFFER YOU Hassle free switching • Local point of contact - including ongoing bill management • Multiple sites - consolidate to one expiry date

Rely on Ringlink

for services, support & solutions

Tel: 01561 376012 E-mail: utilities@ringlinkscotland.co.uk

01 INTRODUCTION Take a look through the handbook and see how we can help. If you are unsure whether we offer a particular service – or think it’s one we should - call your local office and discuss it with the team.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 OPPORTUNITIES I don’t want to be completely negative about the prospects for the future.

Our aim is to help whenever possible as we want you to get the full benefit of your annual subscription.

There are opportunities to be tapped into, and as food production is not being given the support it so clearly deserves and needs, we know how resourceful our members can be and they will doubtless be looking more closely at growing energy as well as food, whether that be solar, wind or biogas.

And my hopes for 2023? I would like to see a more settled period economically, more investment by government into the agricultural sector to secure our food supply chains and a similar weather pattern as we’ve experienced over the last 12 months.

There have been a few changes on the Ringlink board as well as in the wider team and you can find out more about that in our “meet the team” section later in the handbook.

FINGERS CROSSED. And finally, I’d like to thank the entire team for their continued hard work and to my board of directors for the support they provide and their commitment to being the greatest ambassadors for our co-operative.

However, it is evident that all members still do not appreciate the full extent of the services available and then miss out on the benefits their membership can give.

Managing Director Graham Bruce

9

£77m

combined turnover from 3,200 members

RINGLINK AT A GLANCE 2022

£3.07

cost of membership weekly is less than a subscription to Farmers Weekly

108,953 total transactions

325

number of workers on average who are out every day across the year

£8.05m

labour turnover making us an Apprenticeship Levy Payer

78,000

tonnes of livestock feed sold

2,077

electricity contracts managed

350

types of training courses available

8,391

trainees through a range of courses

30 mins

Using just one Ringlink service saves 30 mins management time per month = pays your yearly subscription!

94,081

97,987 incoming calls received

£75,000

of fuel card savings for members

outgoing calls made

148 young people graduated from the pre-apprenticeship Programme (over 10 years)

32.5m

litres of fuel sold

01 INTRODUCTION

RINGLINK - SWINGING OPEN THE DOORS TO OUR NEW TRAINING FACILITY

1,860

electricity contracts managed

126

It is the additional external space that has Last year, we opened a new provided significant opportunity 27.4mand has from the training facility adjacentpre-apprenticeship to ourgraduates been hugely modified tolitres accommodate programme (over 9 years) headquarters in Laurencekirk. fuel other training coursesof which includes New

Roads and Streetworks,sold Excavator and Situated alongside the Laurencekirk railway Dumper training together with Crane and station and easily accessible from the main Slinger Signaller training. Additionally, ATV, £220,000 A90, the training centre is ideally located to Welding and Abrasive Wheels training are all welcome trainees from the North East and accommodated within the centre. much further afield.

Recent funding from the Mains of Loirston What was originally a bus and coach vehicle discount Charitable Trust has allowed us to invest in a savings for members facility, the premises have been completely ‘state of the art’ simulator. This will provide a transformed to feature a series of dedicated 13,812 great opportunity for the novice operator to tonnes training rooms together with both internal and hone their skills before operating on the actual of fertiliser sold for both agricultural external practical training areas to facilitate machine. Programmed the wide range of training courses available. and construction-based activities the simulator will provide an introduction to forklift and 170,000 The centre now provides ideal facilities108,495tractor operations, together with excavator incoming calls received incoming emails processed to deliver our existing portfolio of training and dumper operations and significantly will be including Pesticides and Forklifts and with132,300 of huge advantage to the pre-apprentices and 135,000 outgoing made outgoing emails the introduction of a ‘forestry’ workshop the callsnew entrants to the industry whosent have always practical chainsaw elements can be delivered been a priority for the business. in a controlled environment conducive to learning.

12

“Our aim is to enhance and strengthen your workforce with training that is designed to suit your business, delivered in an engaging and informative way.”

Training is without doubt a catalyst to encourage and promote the skills required to support industry and growth within the economy. We firmly believe that the new training facility will contribute hugely and has the capacity to enable personal growth and development for the next and future generations.

13

Award-winning Groundcare machinery specialists.

Hire, Purchase, Service & Repair Horticulture & Groundcare Equipment Specialists.

Over 50 years of knowledge & experience.

01307 468 556

Station yard, Carseview Road, Forfar, DD8 3BT www.gammies.co.uk

SERVICES & PRICES 02

Please note the following pages are a guide price list for 2023 only and are based on average working conditions. Any change to these prices for any reason or for services that show POA (price on application) will be given when job is booked.

•

All rates include fuel except self- drive hire.

•

Due to major fuel price fluctuations, suppliers may apply a fuel surcharge to cover day-to-day fuel increases.

•

All services are per acre and include operator unless otherwise stated.

•

Suppliers must ensure adequate insurance cover is in place before doing Ringwork.

•

Travelling time may be charged extra to the rates shown, if there is less than four hours work or it is indicated at time of booking.

•

The supply of labour incurs a minimum charge of eight hours unless otherwise agreed.

•

Late cancellation may incur the minimum eight hour charge.

HIRED EQUIPMENT CONDITIONS •

Delivery may be charged on hired equipment.

•

Demanders must ensure adequate insurance is in place for all self- drive equipment when attached or unattached.

•

Demander must carry out daily maintenance checks as per operating instructions.

•

Self-drive equipment remains on hire until returned to supplier unless otherwise agreed.

•

Self-drive equipment must be returned clean and free from foreign objects (and filled with fuel where applicable).

•

Demander should check the machine’s condition on uplift.

•

Supplier must check the machine’s condition on return.

PLEASE NOTE: RINGLINK (SCOTLAND) LTD ACTS AS AN AGENT ONLY AND NOT AS A PRINCIPAL.

15

ADM Agriculture Ltd

in association with Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd

Speak to your local Ringlink office for your fertiliser requirements.

Standard payment and extended finance available on a wide range of N, P, K, NS and NPK(+S) fertilisers.

Coupar Angus Cupar Elgin Laurencekirk Oldmeldrum

01828 640456 01334 809999 01343 550123 01561 377790 01651 873602

www.adm.com | www.adm-agri.co.uk T: 01427 421200 E: enquiries.adm.agriculture@adm.com

02 SERVICES & PRICES

PLOUGHING/CULTIVATING/SEEDING SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/ACRE

£/HOUR

Autumn Ploughing 26.00 - 29.75 Ploughing Plus Press 29.20 - 33.25 Winter Ploughing 24.85 - 28.00 Subsoiling 91.75 Shakerator/Flatliner 200-300hp 38.25 91.75 Discing (Black Ground) 18.50 Discing (Stubble) c/w press 17.75 Multi Harrowing 14.25 RotaSpike / Power Harrowing 25.35 Rotavating (Winter Ley) 35.25 Sowing OSR (Seed Only) 10.00 Sowing OSR (Seed & Fert) 13.50 Sowing Grass Seed 9.25 Sowing Grain Only 12.25 Sowing Grain & Fert (up to 3cwt) 14.50 Sowing Grain & Fert (over 3cwt) plus 0.85 Direct Drill (Moore Unidrill) 35.00 One Pass OSR (Seed Only) 24.25 - 27.75 One Pass OSR (Seed & Fert) 26.25 - 30.50 One Pass Sowing Grain Only 25.75 - 30.50 One Pass Grain & Fert (up to 3 cwt) 27.45 - 32.75 One Pass Grain & Fert (over 3 cwt) plus 0.85 Vaderstad Drill Grain & Fert 27.50 32.75 No Till Drill (Grain & Fert) Min Till Drill (Grain & Fert) 42.75 Turnip Sowing (28” Drill with applicator) >10 acres 28.50 Turnip Sowing (28” Flat with applicator) >10 acres 32.00 Turnip Sowing (19” Flat with applicator) >10 acres 33.50 34.75 Turnip Sowing (On beds with applicator) >10 acres Cambridge Rolling 6.00 52.25 8.50 61.25 Cambridge Rolling with Paddles Roller Hire 3.00 83.25 Min Charge

Paddle Roller Hire 6.00 113.00

Min Charge Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

17

A MAJOR FORCE IN AGRICUTURAL, CONSTRUCTION, & GROUNDCARE

AGRICULTURAL CONSTRUCTION FORKLIFTS GROUNDCARE HEATERS & GENERATORS HIRE HOT TUBS TRAILERS

02 SERVICES & PRICES

SPRAYING & FERTILISING SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/ACRE £/OTHER

Fertiliser Spreading Spinner (up to 2cwt) 5.50 LGP Fertiliser Spreading High Clearance Spreading Liquid Nitrogen & Urea Liquid Nitrogen with added Sulphur Inject Compound Fert to potatoes Slug Pellet Application LGP Bike 3.75 Lime Delivered & Spread Lime Spreading (1.5 tonnes or over/Acre) 6.00/tonne Lime Spreading (less than 1.5 tonnes/Acre) 7.25/tonne Lime Spreading with GPS (30 Acres Min) 9.25 Slag Spreading 24.00/tonne 11.25/HA Spraying (up to 20 galls 1 - 40 hectares) £POA All other Spraying Operations Crop Walking, Inspection £POA Irrigating @ 1” Water £POA Irrigation Complete Hire (pump, reel, pipes) £POA

Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

19

Your Independent Timber Cooperative in the North East of Scotland OWNED BY MEMBERS, FOR MEMBERS

YOU RETAIN YOUR PROFITS • YOU HAVE COMPLETE VISIBILIT Y OF COSTS AND INCOME • WE ORGANISE FELLING PERMISSION • WE ORGANISE REPL ANTING

D E E S I D E AC T I V I T Y PA R K , A B OY N E AB34 5DB 013 3 9 8 8 5 3 3 5 harryjwilson@rtsforestry.co.uk

02 SERVICES & PRICES

FORAGING, BALING, WRAPPING SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/ACRE £/OTHER

Mowing Conditioner 14.50 Mowing Condition with Spreader 15.75 Mowing Peas 18.50 Tedding (6 metre wide +) 7.00 60.50/Hour Raking (6 metre wide +) 7.00 60.50/Hour 3.00/Bale Baling 4 x 4 Silage / Hay Baling 4 x 4.5 Silage / Hay 3.60/Bale Baling with chopper 3.60/Bale Baling Hay Small Square 0.75/Bale Bale Wrapping Silage Tubeline 4 x 4 3.50/Bale Bale Wrapping Silage Tubeline 4 x 4.5 3.90/Bale Bale Wrapping Silage Individual 4 x 4 3.95/Bale Bale Wrapping Silage Individual 4 x 4.5 4.50/Bale Baling & Wrapping Tubeline 4 x 4 6.10/Bale Baling & Wrapping Tubeline 4 x 4.5 6.50/Bale Baling & Wrapping Tubeline Chopped 4 x 4 7.00/Bale Baling & Wrapping Individual 4 x 4 7.25/Bale Baling & Wrapping Individual 4 x 4.5 7.90/Bale Baling & Wrapping Individual chopped 8.25/Bale Baling & Wrapping Square (Quad) 9.25/Bale Baling & Wrapping 5.5 X 4 X 3 7.90/Bale * The above prices are based on 4 layers of wrap & subject to change due to fluctuations in plastics prices

Precision Chop Foraging 27.75 - 33.25 Self Propelled Foraging 27.75 - 33.25 Direct Cut Whole Crop Cereals 52.50 Tractor & Trailer up to 12t 34.00/Hour Tractor & Trailer over 14t 35.00 45.00/Hour Silage Trailer (10 – 16t Self Drive) 46.25 71.50/Day Tractor & Buckrake 35.50 49.00/Hour Push off Buckrake (Self Drive) 46.25 60.00/Day Topping Grass Rotary (Min charge of 4 hours) 11.75 43.25/Hour Topping Grass Flail/Mulch “ 14.50 50.25/Hour Straw Chopping “ 50.75/Hour OSR Chopping “ 46.25/Hour Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

21

D.M. CARNEGIE

Steelstrath, Laurencekirk, AB30 1RN Tel: 01674 840288 Fax: 01674 840395

SERVICES:               

Soil sampling and mapping. Limestone delivered and VRT Spread.

Field drainage work undertaken.

Mobile seed dressing with chemicals applied. Seed supplied.

Grass seed sown & rolled with special drill on Cambridge rollers.

Grain & fertiliser sown with one pass lemken systems.

Self propelled forage harvester for grass and cereal whole crops.

16-18 ft swathing.

Combining with 30 ft machines.

Grain and fertiliser merchants.

Round and square baling of silage, hay and straw.

All crop chemicals sold and 24, 28 and 36 metre spraying service provided.

General haulage, flat, curtainside and bulk tippers.

All other contract work.

Dried woodchip available.

Sprayer MOT testing. Book your NSTS test. Part of the voluntary initiative.

Agrochemical Specialists and Crop Consultants

CARNEGIE CROP SERVICES Cookston, Brechin, DD9 7QS Tel: 01356 622066 Fax: 01356 625793

02 SERVICES & PRICES

CEREAL HARVESTING, BALING SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/ACRE

£/OTHER

Swathing OSR up to 25 acres 20.50 Swathing OSR over 25 acres Swathing Peas Combining Cereals 39.25 - 52.50 OSR with Draper Header 41.75 - 55.25 OSR Direct with Side Knife 41.75 - 55.75 With Chopper (additional charge) 4.75 Mobile Grain Drying £POA On Farm Drying (Tray, Continuous Flow) £POA Mobile Grain Cleaning / Seed Dressing £POA Straw Tub Grinding (mobile Service) £POA Mobile Mill ‘n’ Mix Service £POA Propcorning & Rolling £POA Turning/Rowing straw £POA Baling Straw 4 x 4 2.75/Bale Baling Straw 4 x 4.5 3.00/Bale Baling Straw 4 x 5 3.50/Bale Baling Straw 4 x 6 4.85/Bale Baling Big Square D1010 8’ X 32” X 36” 3.85/Bale MF/BB960 8’ X 48” X 36” 6.15/Bale 5.10/Bale Quadrant 8’ X 48” X 27” Hesston 8’ X 48” X 51” 8.40/Bale Small Square Baling with sledge 0.95/Bale Bale Wrapping Straw Tubeline 4 X 4 3.45/Bale Bale & Bale Wrapping Tubeline 4 X 4 5.75/Bale Bale Wrapping Straw Tubeline 4 X 5 3.85/Bale Bale & Bale Wrapping Tubeline 4 X 5 6.65/Bale Ammonia Injection £POA Ritchie 8 Bale Trailer & Tractor 53.25/Hour Ritchie 8 Bale Trailer Self Drive 115.50/Day

Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

23

Rely on Ringlink for services, support & solutions

ANIMAL FEEDS

MALTING BARLEY

FOR SALE

FERTILISER

LABOUR

INSURANCE

TYRES

SPECIAL OFFERS

STORAGE

STRAW/HAY BALES

HAULAGE

FUEL

MACHINERY/PLANT

TRAINING

VEHICLES

GRAIN

FORESTRY SERVICES

BUILDING & FENCING SUPPLIES

ELECTRICITY/ UTILITIES

LAND RENTAL

We do more than you know

02 SERVICES & PRICES

ROOT CROP, VEGETABLE SERVICES SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/ACRE

£/HOUR

Deep Cultivating 31.00 69.25 Power Harrow/Rotaspike 36.25 110.75 Deep Ridging 31.00 Shallow Ridging 22.00 46.25 Bed Tiller with plough 73.75 184.75 3 Row Bed Tiller with ploughs Stone Separating Potatoes 36mm 124.00 32mm 129.50 Carrots 32mm 141.00 Bedforming Separated Beds 51.75 Precision Drilling Veg On Beds 58.00 Bedforming Precision Drilling One Pass 92.75 Planting Potatoes Without Fert 52.50 Planting Potatoes With Fert 58.00 Potato Harvesting Unmanned 169.00 Dahlman Roller unmanned 186.00 156.00 Self Propelled Harvester on Tracks Tractor & Trailer 39.50 - 43.75 Front Topper 17.50 Windrowing Bulb £POA Farnwood Ware Separator £POA Potato Dressing/Grading £POA Potato Storage £POA Potato Haulm Pulverising 3 Bed (Less than 25 acres) £POA Potato Haulm Pulverising 3 Bed (more than 25 acres) £POA Green Haulm Desiccation (Plus gas) £POA Bulb Haulm Pulverising 40.50 Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

25

your land, your rights...

“The strategic advice and support we received was invaluable and the result well beyond our expectations”

Your local Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor and renowned expert in the field with regards to compensation claims, renewable energy, infrastructure projects and utilities crossing private land.

Cameron are ready to advise and guide you through this complex process and help you achieve the best possible outcome.  25+ years experience  specialist advice and solutions  roads, cables, pipelines  fees often all paid by authority  farming clients across the North

Call Neil for a chat today 01667 404 333

CAMERON R U R A L P R O P E R T Y C O N S U LT A N T S

www.cameronproperty.co.uk

02 SERVICES & PRICES

ROOT CROP, VEGETABLE SERVICES-CONTINUED TURNIP HARVESTING - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/ACRE

£/HOUR

EQUIPMENT - HIRE ONLY

£/ACRE

£/DAY

SERVICES PRICE/DAY

£/DAY

Turnip Harvesting Single Row 48.50/Hour Turnip Harvesting From Beds 145.25/Acre Fodder Beet Harvesting Carrot Harvesting From Beds Brush Weeding 47.25/Acre 65.50/Hour Steerage Hoe 47.25/Acre 65.50/Hour Cabbage Planter 9 Row Scarifier Deep Ridgers Hire £POA Bed Tiller with Ploughs £POA Bed Former Hire £POA Brush Weeder Hire £POA Potato Box Hire £POA Potato Box Tippler Hire 57.75 Potato Box Trailer Hire Eight Box 52.00 Potato Box Trailer Hire Ten Box 57.75 Potato Box Trailer Hire Twelve Box 63.50 Trailer Hire Over 10t Trailer Hire 20’ - 40’ Flats Low Loader Trailer Hire Stock Trailer Silage Trailer over 10t Heavy Duty Dump Trailer Ritchie 8 Bale Straw Cart Post Driver Hire Strainer Borer Hire Log Splitter Hire Road Brush Hire Road Brush & Bucket Hire Cement Mixer Hire Various Types Compressor Hire Dumper Truck Hire Plastic Laying Machine Water Bowser Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

27

56.25 50.75 73.25 62.00 67.50 67.50 112.75 35.00 £POA £POA 56.25 62.00 £POA £POA £POA £POA £POA

Fuelling Scottish farms, together With depots nationwide, we’re proud to provide Ringlink members with reliable, competitive fuel supply and management solutions to power your machinery and keep your farm moving, season after season, come rain or shine.

Red diesel

FAME-free fuels

Heating oils

Lubricants and additives

AdBlue

Tanks and telemetry

getintouch@certasenergy.co.uk certasenergy.co.uk P052 - A5 Ringlink Handbook Advert 2022 v2.indd 1

01/02/2022 14:33:39

02 SERVICES & PRICES

TRACTORS, LOADERS, FORKLIFTS & ROAD HAULAGE SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/HOUR

£/WEEKLY

4wd Tractor 101hp - 150hp 31.25 - 39.50 4wd Tractor 151hp - 200hp 33.50 - 45.00 4wd Tractor 201hp - 250hp 57.75 - 63.25 4wd Tractor 251hp - 300hp 69.25 - 76.00 4wd Tractor over 301hp 88.75 - 95.75 Self Drive Tractor Hire Fastrac 150hp - 250hp 34.50 - 70.50 Tracked Tractor 61.75 - 69.75 Tractor & Loader 101hp+ 34.50 - 47.25 Rough Terrain Forklift 34.50 Telescopic Forklift 35.75 - 40.50 JCB Type Digger 34.50 - 40.50 Skid - Steer Loader (Bobcat) 34.50 Tracked Excavator 35.75 - 50.75 Artic Steer (Industrial) 54.75 Telescopic Forklift 90.00 334.75 JCB Type Digger 112.75 346.50 Skid - Steer Loader (Bobcat) 90.25 288.75 Industrial Forklift 3.0t 45.25 150.00 Bulk Haulage Flat Haulage Curtain Sider Road Tankers Vegetable Bulkers Timber Haulage Low Loader(Machinery Trans. Etc.) Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

29

02 SERVICES & PRICES

MUCK, SLURRY SPREADING & LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/HOUR

EQUIPMENT - HIRE ONLY

£/DAY

£SELF/DRIVE

Rota – Spreading 36.75 57.75 Rear Spread Muck Spreading -> 10t 46.50 138.50 Rear Spread Muck Spreading -> 12t 48.00 155.75 Rear Spread Muck Spreading -> 14t 48.75 161.00 Side Impeller / Dual Spreader 40.25 80.75 Slurry Spreading 2000gallons 37.25 52.00 Vacuum Tanker 2500gallons 45.00 57.75 Vacuum tanker 3000gallons 56.25 69.25 Slurry Injection LGP Self Propelled Slurry Tanker Umbilical Spreading

Four Ewe Lamb Adopter Sheep Turning Crate Sheep Race & Gates Lamb Weigher Sheep Foot Bath Mobile Sheep Dipper Calf Dehorning Crate Cattle Crush Cattle Weigh Crate Mobile Cattle Race (Inc. Gates) Cattle Foot Bath Livestock Trailer Hire

39.50 39.50 39.50 73.75 45.00 39.50 56.25 73.25 33.75

Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

31

02 SERVICES & PRICES

MISCELLANOUS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/HOUR

Tree Planting Chain Saw & Operator (with Certificate) Tree Felling & Thinning Forestry Road Construction Hedge Cutting 43.75 Drainage Complete Service Drain Jetting Supply Drainage Materials Industrial Hoover Hire Hovering & Cleaning of Sheds Power Washing of Sheds Power Washer Hire Shot Blasting Small Tool Hire Shed Construction Demolition Work Supply & Erection of Storage Systems Feed System Installation Concrete Laying / Building Stone Crushing Vibrating Roller Hard & Soft Landscaping Hydramulch & Water Jet Seeding Garden Maintenance 24 Hour Glass Replacement Service Pest Control Services(Rats/Mice/Moles/Rabbits) Skip Hire / Waste Removal Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

33

We’ll take care of business To find out more contact: Stephen Buchan Regional Head of Agriculture Scotland stephen.buchan@cybg.com 07824 473262 Virgin Money is a trading name of Clydesdale Bank PLC (which also trades as Yorkshire Bank).

VM37272

It’s really important to us to have a specialist team who understand the challenges within agriculture. We have a long history of supporting our farming customers as they look to adapt their businesses to deal with the challenges ahead. Our team of Agricultural Managers are based throughout the UK and are always on hand to provide advice and support to help our customers thrive.

02 SERVICES & PRICES

COMMODITIES DAILY QUOTATIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING: Fuel Gas Oil (Red Diesel) Derv (White Diesel) Kero (Domestic Heating Oil) Oils Complete Range of OiIs Film For Silage or Carrots Net Wrap Various Types Baler Twine Various Types Animal Feeds Barley, Wheat, Molasses, Draff, Pot Ale etc.

Hay & Straw Any Shape or Size (When Available) Alternative Bedding Wood Pellets, Shavings, Sawdust & Peat Silage Bales or Pit Silage (When Available) Stockfeed Veg Brock Potatoes (When Available) Brock Carrots Brock Turnips Hardcore Graded & Delivered Fire Extinguishers Supply & Service Arable Inputs Lime Magnesium, White & Granular Lime Complete Supply & Spread Service Seed Fertiliser & Chemicals Rock Salt White, Brown, Grit Mix Farm Signs Complete Range Available Tanks Fuel, Oil, Water, Mollasses etc.

Coal Delivered Choice of Grades Estate Maintenance Tree, Hedge Planting & Supplies Fencing Materials Posts, Wire, Strainers etc etc

35

Are you keeping up with all the Ringlink news?

Sign up to our newsletter now at: laurencekirk@ ringlinkscotland. co.uk

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S

Rely on Ringlink Services...

L

Ringlink Services your expert in training solutionsLtd

Tel: 01561 376000 email: laurencekirk@ringlinkservices.co.uk www.ringlinkservices.co.uk

FOR ALL YOUR TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS Delivering Quality Training and Assessments Throughout the Country Sprayer Operator Course

Delivering Quality Training and Ass Throughout the Country

Sprayer Operator Course

10 NRoSO Points Are you taking the Pesticides?

01-Dec-08

Coupar Angus

19-Jan-09

Inverness

09-Feb-09

Coupar Angus

16-Feb-09

Thainston

03-Dec-08

• FULLY ACCREDITED TRAINING • TRAINING DELIVERED ON SITE AND COUNTRYWIDE

Other Courses Include • • • • •

• QUALITY ASSURANCE APPROVED • •

• LANTRA TRAINING •

Kirkintilloch

• •

We have been running half day sprayer Operator courses for a number of years. This year the course includes • Stores & Storage Transport • • Sprayer Sprayer Problems • Buffers • LERAPSOperator • Product Revocation Course • Footpaths We have numerous courses running throughout the country, please refer to the calendar for suitable dates and venues.

Please call for additional dates as the list only represents a selection.

24/11/2008 Laurencekirk 10 NRoSO 26/11/2008 Inverurie Points 26/11/2008 Banchory 27/11/2008 Falkirk 01/12/2008 Munlochy AreRothbury you taking the Pesticides?

02/12/2008 02/12/2008 Keith 01-Dec-08 Coupar Angus 02/12/2008 Thurso 03-Dec-08 Kirkintilloch 08/12/2008 Cupar 08/12/200819-Jan-09 Annan Inverness 08/12/200809-Feb-09 Perth Coupar Angus 09/12/2008 Pathhead Thainston 15/12/200816-Feb-09 Ellon

Other Courses Include

Chainsaw Arboriculture First Aid Manual Handling Tractor Driving Trailer Towing Excavator Forklift Rat & Mouse Control

• • • • • • • •

Mearns & Mearns Angus Services Call & Angus Services CITY AND GUILDS NPTC ASSESSMENTS 01561 37600001561 376000 www.mearnsandangus.com www.mearnsandangus.com

Call Mearns & Angus Services 01561 376000 www.mearnsandangus.com

PROVIDING TRAINING SOLUTIONSON ACROSS THE COUNTRY CALL RINGLINK SERVICES 01561 376000

PROVIDING TRAINING SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SLUG PELLET UPDATE Upgrade your PA1 and PA2

NPTC AssessmeNTs We deliver the full suite of NPTC Certificates of Competence

Courses running in: Aberdeen Forfar Coupar Angus We can also offer this at your own premises for a maximum of 12 people per course.

24/11/2008 Lau 26/11/2008 Inve 26/11/2008 Ban 27/11/2008 Falk 01/12/2008 Mun 02/12/2008 Rot 02/12/2008 Keit 02/12/2008 Thu 08/12/2008 Cup 08/12/2008 Ann 08/12/2008 Pert 09/12/2008 Path 15/12/2008 Ello

Chainsaw Arboriculture First Aid Manual Handling Tractor Driving Trailer Towing Excavator Forklift Rat & Mouse Control

•

to a PA4S by attending Forklift Training half day seminar.

PROVIDING TRAINING SOLUTIONS ACROSS THEthis COUNTRY delivered on site.

If you have the FIRST AID TRAINING Appointed Person facilities we can 3 Day First Aid at Work come to you 2 Day Refresher Training

Sprayer Ope

We have been runn Operator courses for a year the course include • Stores & Sto Transport • • Sprayer Prob • Buffers • LERAPS • Product Rev • Footpaths We have numerou throughout the countr calendar for suitable Please call for addition represents a selection.

FOOD HyGIENE Food Hygiene courses to meet quality assurance running at a venue near you.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIqUES Do you need to deliver training?

Ensure that you have the correct skills to deliver training effectively.

The next course starts on the 10th May 2010 in Perth.

DRIvER CPC Don’t miss out on your periodic training. You must gain 35 hours of Periodic Training before September 2014.

02 SERVICES & PRICES

LABOUR & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SERVICES - LABOUR INCLUDED

£/HOUR

Pre-Apprentice 8.20 Labour Unskilled 13.95 Semi Skilled Labour 15.90 Overtime Rate 21.20 HGV Driver 16.10 Relief Pig Person 15.75 Multi Skilled Labour Fencer Relief Dairy Person Cattle Feet Trimming (Inc. Mobile Crate) Sheep Shearing Mechanic On Site Blacksmith Electrician Potato Box Repair (On Farm Service) Builder Roughcaster Slater Joiner Shotblaster Pest Eradication (Rats/Mice/Rabbits/Moles) Agronomy Services Water Divining Agricultural Consultants Estate & Land Management Advisory Services Secretarial Services Unless agreed otherwise, the supply of labour incurs a minimum charge of eight hours.

Note: any prices not listed above are priced on application (POA). Our contact details are on the back cover.

37

“It’s your Ringlink” Making the most of your membership?

From fuel cards to fencing supplies, forklift training to phone contracts, there are loads of ways you can get more from your membership

THERE ARE LOADS OF IDEAS IN YOUR HANDBOOK, OR GET IN TOUCH WITH US DIRECTLY. OUR CONTACT DETAILS ARE ON THE BACK COVER.

02 SERVICES & PRICES

MEMBER SURVEY FEEDBACK Our member survey for 2022 went out towards the end of the year.

When it comes to how you find out what is going on, it seems we like to talk on the phone and email, with 77% and 61% seeing these as essential ways of communication, respectively.

While one in four of you find our social media helpful, it appears nearly half of you describe it as “not helpful” (smiley face).

Many of you took the time to complete it, which gives us valuable feedback that guides the direction Ringlink takes in the future.

ESSENTIAL

The questionnaire asked about a range of topics, from what services you use and why you joined, through to how you rate the quality of service and any comments you wanted to share.

Fortunately, a fifth of you say the member handbook is essential and more than 40% say it’s helpful.

Managing director Graham Bruce said: “As a rural business co-operative, we are owned by our members and so it’s vitally important we know what you think.

Machinery, training and labour services all scored highly – unsurprisingly – for reasons why member Sare part of the Ring.

“We have to change to keep up with developments in the industry and this needs to align with what our members want us to do and what you find useful in helping you run a successful business.”

Over half use Ringlink to negotiate their utilities contracts, but more surprising was that more than half of our respondents rarely use our machinery hire.

AWARENESS We also investigated the awareness of what we do and whether members knew about everything that is on offer from Ringlink.

More than 85% of respondents see escalating costs as one of their key challenges

It is gratifying to know that most of our members are aware of our core services, although nearly a third were unaware we can provide forestry services, and more than four in 10 didn’t know we can help with health & safety management.

Over half of the respondents use Ringlink to negotiate their utilities contracts

When asked about challenges, the most common one facing respondents is escalating costs, with more than 85% mentioning it. Other looming issues were identified as sourcing skilled labour and the effect of legislative changes.

39

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SIGN UP FOR A FREE 28 DAY TRIAL OR CONTACT FOR MORE INFO

www.smartfarmerapp.co.uk Parkside, Kinneff, By Montrose DD10 0SY 07860928665 marc@smartfarmerapp.co.uk

BEING AN EMPLOYER 03

BEING AN EMPLOYER: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR MEMBER BUSINESSES?

EMPLOYMENT STATUS When engaging staff, a worker’s employment status - employed or self-employed - is not a matter of choice. Companies such as Uber, Deliveroo & City Sprint have hit the headlines over recent years following tribunals to determine the employment status of their workers.

Well, you need to be clear about the employment status of anyone working for you or risk being hit with a hefty PAYE and National Insurance bill as well as a raft of employment liabilities.

Ultimately it is up to HMRC to decide if a job is suitable to be carried out by an ‘employee’, or one that can be carried out by someone ‘selfemployed’. However, Demanding members must make the distinction and apply the correct tax regime to the job.

In all cases tribunals have found that the “selfemployed” businesses were in fact employees and entitled to a greater range of entitlements such as sick pay & holiday pay.

To assist members there is a comprehensive check list tool for CEST (Check Employment Status for Tax) on Gov.uk where Demander members can go in and answer questions from both an employer’s and worker’s perspective, and check if the worker falls within the scope of employee.

Check employment status for tax - gov.uk (www.gov.uk) Please be aware that there is the potential that HMRC may seek to recover any unpaid tax and NI contributions from a Demander member should it be found that a worker is engaged in a job on a ‘self-employed’ basis but it is found 41

WE COVER SMALL FARMS, LARGE FARMS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN The UK’s leading rural insurer At NFU Mutual we offer tailored insurance and a local service.

We cover all farms from poultry and sheep to arable and horticulture.

Contact your local Agent today and find out more: Call Andy Mackle on 01561 378 117 or email laurencekirk@nfumutual.co.uk Brae Cottage, Station Road, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, AB30 1BE

Andrew J Mackle is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982).

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER Additionally, following the completion of the 12 week qualifying period, agency workers are entitled to the same “basic working and employment conditions” that they would have been entitled to had they been recruited directly by the hirer, including pay rates, holidays, bonuses etc.

to be that they should have been engaged as an ‘employee’.

It should be noted that a demanding business is still required to offer the same health & safety protections when self-employed workers or contractors are used on-site.

Failure to do so may result in penalties which can include unlimited fines or a prison sentence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL RINGLINK OFFICE

AGENCY LABOUR PROVIDERS

Ringlink Services have supplied casual labour to RH Brunton for the past 6 years. Growing potatoes & onions we need to adapt to seasonal variances causing our s taff requirements to fluctuate and Ringlink have never let us down in supplying staff, even at a day’s’notice. Ringlink provide reliable staff, respond quickly to our needs and offer the flexibility that our business requires.

There are several employment agency members supplying labour through the machinery ring. This method of supply provides the opportunity for members to engage workers without PAYE obligations as the agency assumes responsibility for payment of the worker’s remuneration and the deduction and payment of National Insurance Contributions and PAYE. “Workers supplied through agency labour providers are subject to the standard terms and conditions of the supplying company (available on request) in place at the time of any staff placements. These terms are required to be signed before any staff can be supplied.”

Hugh Brunton, Arbroath PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Employers’ responsibilities to workers regarding the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) changed on 6 April 2022.

As far as personal protective equipment is concerned, the regulations and accompanying impact assessment extended employer and employee duties to all workers engaged at your place of business (Including agency or casual staff).

AGENCY WORKERS REGULATIONS (2010) These regulations mean all agency workers must have the same access to certain basic facilities - including canteen, toilets, vending machine - amenities and information from the first day of an assignment as provided to fulltime workers.

The regulations and accompanying impact assessment extend employers and employees duties in respect of personal protective equipment to all workers engaged on your place of business (including agency or casual staff)

As a labour user you are required to ensure that any agency workers who are supplied to you by agency providers will receive the benefit of such amenities and facilities.

43

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

BEING AN EMPLOYER: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW What is PPE?

INDUCTIONS

PPE is defined in the regulations as “all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects the person against one or more risks to that person’s health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective”.

Do you already carry out an induction for any new workers?

If the answer is no, then you need to think again. As a user of labour, demanders have a responsibility to give new workers a safety induction for working on their site with the relevant equipment. The induction should cover at least the following points: • name of person whom the worker reports to • worker’s duties and responsibilities • company’s health & safety policy • emergency exits and procedures where applicable • working hours, frequency and length of rest breaks • location of toilet facilities and amenities

What does this mean for employers?

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 place a duty on every employer in Great Britain to ensure that suitable PPE is provided to “employees” who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work.

The PPER 2022 extended this duty to workers and came into force in April last year.

We have used Ringlink Services for over 20 years to supply skilled and unskilled labour for our fertiliser packing operation at Dundee. The seasonal nature of our business is opposite to the general farming season which allows us to source experienced agricultural workers, many of whom return year after year.

“The flexibility of sourcing staff & utilising the machinery pool from Ringlink has allowed the business to go from strength to strength. Ringlink offer a great service, with the team often going beyond the call of duty to help when you need it most.

What does this mean for workers?

If a risk assessment indicates a worker requires PPE to carry out their work activities, the employer must carry out a PPE suitability assessment and provide the PPE free of charge as they do for employees.

The employer will be responsible for the maintenance, storage and replacement of any PPE they provide, and as a worker, you will be required to report loss and defects in the PPE which is provided, use the PPE in accordance with the training and instruction provided, and ensure PPE is returned to the accommodation provided by the employer.

Steve Briggs, Angus Horticulture

44

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

8,391

S TRAINEE URSES O DC ATTENDET YEAR LAS

With over 350 types of training course available, with bespoke options and e-learning on offer.

45

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

NATIONAL LIVING WAGE & WORKPLACE PENSIONS NATIONAL LIVING WAGE

From the 1st April 2023, the National Living Wage is increasing to £10.42 per hour and the Scottish Agricultural Wage Board rates for 2023/2024 will be the same.

Currently anyone aged 25 years or over is entitled to be paid at least the National Living Wage of £9.50 per hour. The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) rates mirror this for all workers aged 16 & over. If the worker is within their first six months of service this is payable up to 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. Overtime at 1.5 times the minimum hourly rate is payable for any hours worked out with these parameters.

I get a great service from the Ringlink team when sourcing temporary staff; always ready to go out of their way to accommodate my requirements.

After six months of service the worker is entitled to be paid the National Living Wage for up to 8 hours per day & 39 hours per week with overtime payable thereafter.

Michael Niven, Clova Farms, Murdrum, Carnoustie

IT PAYS TO LEARN GET UP TO £200 TOWARDS THE COST OF A TRAINING COURSE WITH AN SDS INDIVIDUAL TRAINING ACCOUNT (ITA) You could use the money to build the skills you need for a job. Or get some training to take your career to the next level. Whatever you want to do, there is a wide range of ITA approved courses on offer.

And because it’s not a loan you don’t have to pay it back. Sounds good? Start searching for an ITA approved course and apply online.

Applications open now - limited funding available so do not delay, see website below:

You could receive up to £200 towards a single course or training episode per year. ITA funding could be right for you if you’re: • aged 16 or over • not in education or involved in any other SDS-funded Programme • unemployed and looking to get back into work • employed and earning less than £22,000 per year • resident in Scotland

www.myworldofwork.co.uk/learn-and-train/ sds-individual-training-accounts-ita

46

WORKPLACE PENSIONS An estimated seven million people in the UK aren’t saving enough for retirement. So having the right workplace pension is more important than ever. Automatic enrolment is the government’s initiative to address this.

All employers with one or more employees have to meet the legal requirements and help employees save of their retirement. All eligible employees automatically become members of a qualifying pension scheme with a high enough level of contribution. Whilst all eligible employees must be enrolled into a qualifying pension scheme they can choose to opt out if they wish.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE EMPLOYER: • • • •

workforce assessment provision and automatic enrolment into a qualifying scheme facilitating opting out and refund record keeping

3%

EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR AUTO ENROLMENT IF THEY ARE: • • •

aged between 22 years and state pension age earning more than £10,000 per annum working in the UK

5%

EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS

47

ai16740361587_Lathallan Jan 2023 A5 Advert.pdf

1

18/01/2023

10:02

YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE IN MIND Co-educational day and boarding school Nursery | Junior School | Senior School

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Book a tour with our admissions team

admissions@lathallan.org.uk 01561 362220 Brotherton Castle, Johnshaven, Angus DD10 0HN

www.lathallan.org.uk

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

EMPLOYING YOUNG PEOPLE Young people over school age and under 18 are known as Young Workers.

There are special laws in place to protect the employment rights of these young workers,in relation to health and safety, what jobs they can do, when and how long they can work. These laws are extremely strict and as an employer, it is vital that they are adhered to or there are tough penalties for breaking them.

HEALTH & SAFETY

HOURS OF WORK & REST BREAKS

If you have a worker who is under the age of 18, you must complete a health & safety risk assessment before they can start working, paying particular attention to their age, experience, and other factors present that could be of risk.

If your worker is of school leaving age but under 18, the law states that they cannot work more than 8 hours each day or more than 40 hours each week. They must be allowed 12 hours rest between working days, and 2 rest days each working week. They are also entitled to a 30 minute rest break when they work for a consecutive 4 and a half hours.

In addition to this, your worker would not be allowed to work between the hours of midnight and 4am, except in the most exceptional circumstances, and that they are supervised by an adult.

If they are under school leaving age, you must also tell one of their parents about the risk assessment findings. This must include any risks that are identified, and measures that will be put in place to protect them.

WHAT WORK CAN BE DONE?

Any persons under school leaving age cannot work during school hours, for more than 2 hours on any school day or for more than 12 hours in any week, for more than 2 hours on a Sunday or for more than 8 hours on any day which is not a school day or a Sunday. They also cannot work before 7am or after 7pm.

If the worker is over school leaving age and under 18, there are special restrictions on the type of work they can do. These include work which they are not physically or mentally capable of, which brings them into contact with chemical agents, toxic materials or radiation, and work involving health risks due to extreme cold, heat or vibration.

HOLIDAYS If your worker is 16 or over they are legally entitled to paid holidays, just the same as workers over 18. For those working a 5 day week they are entitled to 30 days paid holidays under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (No69).

No person under school leaving age can be employed in work other than light work, and they are not allowed to be employed in work which is likely to be harmful to their safety, health, development or that will affect their attendance at school.

49

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

LAND-BASED PRE-APPRENTICESHIP The Land-based Pre-apprenticeship is a recognised progression route for young people and new entrants into the rural industry. The Programme continues to be funded by Scottish Government via Skills Development Scotland on an extended pilot basis, operating not only throughout the north-east but also in the south-west and south of Scotland.

Programme OBJECTIVES

UPFRONT INDUCTION

•

Successful applicants undertake an upfront induction period starting in June which will involve a range of activities including training and industry related visits.

• Health and Safety induction Risk Assessment.

• First Aid Training.

• Manual Handling Training.

• Three day Tractor Driving.

• Three day Forklift Operator Training.

• Introduction to Agriculture.

• Certificate of Work Readiness (CWR - SCQF level 4)

•

• •

To identify suitable candidates who have a desire to work within the rural industry.

To provide practical experience, training and knowledge allowing youngsters to make informed decisions as to how they would like their career to progress.

To provide on-going Mentoring and support to maximise the potential of the young person.

The ultimate aim is to help prepare young people for employment in agriculture and the wider rural sector.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 53

After 10 successful years of delivering the Programme, from 2013-2022 the following outcomes have been achieved: • 80% completion over 10 years • 50% of candidates offered jobs on completing by Mentor businesses • 57% of participants are from a non- agricultural background & new entrants to the sector • 33% of candidates have progressed onto further education (MAs, college, university) • 17% of candidates secured other employment

50

Can you please

mentor

Giving young people the tools to help build their future

do you...

Want to support the industries future workforce?

Want to share your knowledge with others?

Want to benefit from mentoring to meet your own workplace requirements?

We're now recruiting for our 2023 intake of the Land-Based Pre-apprenticeship and need suitable mentor businesses to offer 6 months' employment either on a full-time or part-time basis.

Pre-apprentices are aged between 16-21 years and receive £1500 practical training throughout the program.

Interested in becoming a mentor?

All enquiries to: gail@ringlinkscotland.co.uk or call: 01561 377790

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

THE WORK PLACEMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50 On successful completion of the upfront induction, pre-apprentices commence their placement with a predetermined Mentor.

The Mentor will play a vital role in identifying the capabilities of the individual and will offer both encouragement and support to promote progression and development.

Through the placement period, pre-apprentices will be expected to contribute fully to the business by actively engaging in their allocated tasks.

Opportunities for further development will be made available through arranged visits to a variety of rural businesses.

Additional training courses will be made available through the placement period dependent upon the requirements of the business and the preapprentice.

Programme PARTNERS SRUC: Deliver and assess the Certificate of Work Readiness (CWR) qualification for the trainees along with providing additional support and training as required.

PLACEMENT OVERVIEW • • • • • • •

26 weeks fully paid work placement, 40 hrs per week on a farm or suitable rural business.

An upfront training induction commences in June with our partners SRUC..

Up to £1500 of training will be offered to each candidate.

In addition, there will be input from industry professionals.

Payment for time worked is in accordance with the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB).

All candidates who successfully complete the Programme will receive a certificate of completion awarded from Ringlink.

Holidays will be accrued over the 6 month work placement in accordance with SAWB.

53

Ringlink Scotland: Provide the day-to-day management of the Programme, recruit and support Mentors, and coordinate the training courses for the pre-apprentices.

For full details of the Programme or if you are interested in becoming a Mentor see: www. ringlinkscotland.co.uk/preapprenticeship

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

PRE-APPRENTICESHIP CLASS OF 2022 The Land-based Pre-Apprenticeship 2022 got underway in June with 27 young trainees (as pictured) completing a 4-day block induction at the Scottish Rural College (SRUC) in Cupar, Fife before commencing their six months employment placements with Mentor businesses from July onwards.

Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland funded the scheme as part of 3-year pilot and the employers: Ringlink Scotland, Borders Machinery Ring and Tarff Services are delighted to have secured another 3-year tranche of funding up to 2025.

Graham Bruce, Managing Director of Ringlink Scotland says: “Never has the pre-apprenticeship been as important as it is today, the shortages in skills and labour throughout the agricultural industry and across most sectors, means it is a competitive labour market and all stakeholders need to work harder at promoting this richly diverse sector so that we make it more appealing as a career.”

“The 10th year of the pre-apprenticeship will see almost 200 trainees who have participated in the Programme to date, achieving an 80% completion rate,” said Gail Robertson, Ringlink’s Group Operations and Programme manager.

54

Mentor businesses play a vitally important role in the Programme and we are immensely appreciative for their involvement. Ringlink submitted a proposal to Scottish Government more than 18 months ago seeking a Mentor incentive as a form of some financial support in developing these young entrants and whilst we have not been successful as yet, we remain committed to achieving some level of assistance for Mentors in the future.

Typically, at least 50% of trainees in completion progress on to the modern apprenticeship either with the same Mentor business or another land-based employer.

The Ringlink team and its board of directors have invested significantly to get the preapprenticeship where it is today and our ambition is for the Programme to become part of the modern apprenticeship family.

Interested in Mentoring?... please contact Gail Robertson, Programme Manager as we can’t offer this Programme without Mentors.

Enquiries to: gail@ringlinkscotland.co.uk or 01561 376022 55

TRE ES AND TIMBE R We will provide no obligation quotations for new planting, grant applications and timber harvesting.

•

Fixed price to fell, replant and maintain your

•

Experienced biomass managers

•

Create your own biomass resources using fast-growing eucalyptus, spruce and alder.

Harvest thinning within 10 years.

•

Established since 1984

woodland for five years

M O R AY, K I N C A R D I N E A N D A B E R D E E N S H I R E DE ES I DE ACT IVIT Y PARK , ABOYNE AB34 5BD

ANGUS , P E RTH AN D F I FE EARNSIDE HOUSE , M U T H I L L R OA D CR I E F F PH 7 4HQ

01339 885335 Veronica.llorente@rtsforestry.co.uk

01764 652858 Harry.Wilson@rtsforestry.co.uk

TYLER LAWSON AGRICULTURAL Agricultural, Forestry & Plant Contractor Alford, Aberdeenshire Ploughing tylerlawsonagri@gmail.com Mowing 07546494884 Muck spreading

Grain & fertiliser one-pass sowing Self propelled forage harvester - grass & whole crops with direct cut header Straw & silage round baling - fixed chamber & belted Combination baling & wrapping Combining Tractor & carts available for hire 30ft twin rotor rake 30ft tedder Agricultural groundworks - drainage Forestry contracting - scarifying, mulching, excavator mounding, continuous mounding Road repairs & maintenance Operated excavator plant hire - short & long term (agricultural & construction)

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

FORESTRY PRE-APPRENTICESHIP GETS UNDERWAY After 10 years of successfully offering the Land-based Pre-apprenticeship, we have partnered with Scottish Forestry and SRUC to offer a new bespoke Programme for the forestry sector.

“Scottish Forestry has sourced potential forestry Mentors in certain areas of Scotland, therefore we are targeting the local schools to the work placements to promote this fantastic opportunity,”

The residential training induction hosted

by SRUC will offer a range of activities and training: • Certificate of Work Readiness (CWR SCQF Level 4) • Emergency First Aid + F • Health & Safety Awareness • Manual Handling Awareness • Introduction to Forestry Machinery • Introduction to Forestry Process • Brush Cutter • Introduction to Saws • Forestry simulator

explains Gail Robertson, who manages the pre-apprenticeship Programmes.

As this is a pilot and funded by Skills Development Scotland, we only have eight places available and a short window of recruitment as the upfront induction commences on the 27 March 2023 at SRUC Barony in Dumfries.

Employment placements will then follow for six months working full-time from April to October.

A further week’s training will take place midway through the Programme, with the trainees returning to college in August.

Up to £1500 training will be offered to each candidate with an element of certified training tailored to individual needs.

58

It’s a great time to join the industry with the emphasis on a green recovery, climate action and increasing tree planting targets to expand woodland cover across Scotland.

The pre-apprenticeship is a new way for young people to get a start in the growing forest industry with a range of interesting work to try.

376022

59

Helen McKay, Chief Forester for Scotland

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015 & EXPLOITED WORKERS Modern slavery & worker exploitation is a very real concern in the UK agricultural industry. Further to this we would urge all our demanders to be aware of this as a potential problem and to be able to identify any signs of worker exploitation and what to do if there is evidence of it.

Below is a list of some potential indicators but there are no set number of indicators that would point to a person being a victim of labour abuse.

For more information see: www.modernslaveryhelpline.org

or call the helpline on 08000 121 700

The list of potential signs are grouped under the following headings on the GLAA website: • Restricted Freedom • Behaviours • Working Conditions • Accommodation • Finances • Appearance For further advice on the above, please check out the Gangmaster & Labour Abuse Authority’s website which explains in more detail: www.gla.gov.uk/who-we-are/modern-slavery Should you be aware of or have ANY concerns about worker exploitation or labour abuse of any workers, then it is your duty to report your concerns to the relevant authority.

Labour exploitation is still the most common type of modern slavery reported to the UK Modern Slavery helpline in Scotland (67%). In the most recent period reported (Q2 2022), the highest recorded potential victim nationality is Romanian, as shown in Statistical Report on the following page.

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Scotland 17 Calls relating to cases in Scotland 14 Online reports

1 App submissions

23 Cases of modern slavery

2 Cases of labour abuse

70 Potential victims of

35 Potential victims of

modern slavery

labour abuse

type of exploitation

potential victim nationalities Romania

Unknown, 2, 9%

5

China

2

Russia

2

Scotland

2

Bulgaria

1

Lithuania

1

Pakistan

1

Philippines

1

Various, 1, 5% Criminal, 1, 5%

The nationality of 55 potential victims was recorded as unknown.

Labour , 14, 67%

Sexual, 3, 14%

As with the previous two quarters, there have been no reports of domestic servitude occurring in Scotland in quarter two. This quarter, 67% of modern slavery cases were labour exploitation cases, and 7% of the PVs exploited in Scotland were reported to be Romanian. There was an identical proportion of 3% for Chinese, Russian and Scottish nationals. Male adults represented the highest proportion of victims at 27%, whereas last quarter adults of unknown reported gender accounted for the highest proportion of victims at 31%.

16 Referrals to police forces 0 Referrals to local authorities

on modern slavery cases

victim demographics: age, gender 25

20

20 15 10

7

11

5 0

Male

17

Female Adult

Unknown

0

0

Male

Female Minor

4 Unknown

5

1 Male

Female Unknown

Unseen • Registered charity number 1127620 • Registered company number 06754171

61

Unknown

03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

ILLEGAL WORKERS It is a criminal offence to employ workers who do NOT have the right to work in the UK. You can be sent to jail for 5 years and pay an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ didn’t have the right to work in the UK.

Under the 2006 Immigration, Asylum & Nationalities act, preventing illegal working is now a responsibility of all employers. The act covers permanent, full-time, part-time, fixed term & casual employees. In order to prevent illegal workers gaining employment, employers are required to check that ALL workers employed have recognised documented proof of their right to work in the UK before they commence employment.

If your potential employee is a Non-UK citizen then the following routes are available to check their ‘right to work in the UK’ If the potential employee is an EU citizen and has ‘Settled or Pre-Settled Status’ then they should give you a ‘Share Code’. This along with their name & date of birth should be used to verify their right to work in the UK. This will give you a document you can print with their photograph and immigration status.

RECOGNISED DOCUMENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:-

This can be completed at the following : View a job applicant’s right to work details - gov.uk (www.gov.uk)

There are now multiple routes to verify someone’s right to work in the UK. If your potential worker is a UK citizen then you must see the originals of the following documents, take copies and sign & date them.

•

If your potential employee has applied for ‘Status’ but has not yet been granted, they should have an application confirmation from the Home office.

Their immigration status can be checked using the Employer Checking Service. Use this service to ask the Home Office to check an employee’s or potential employee’s immigration status if they cannot show their documents or online immigration status.

UK passport (can be out of date but the photograph should represent a good likeness of the applicant)

OR A COMBINATION OF 2 OF THE FOLLOWING: • • • • •

A UK Birth Certificate A Government issued document stating name & NI number ie P45 or P60 A benefits office JSA card or letter A previous employers payslip A government issued letter proclaiming the employees residency and employability status

THIS COULD BE, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THEY: • •

62

have an outstanding appeal, review or application with the Home Office arrived in the UK before 1989 and do not have documents to prove their immigration status or right to work

There are example documents in the following guide from the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

The Government and the UK’s Border Agency have come down very hard in recent years concerning the employment of illegal workers.

The penalty for employing an illegal worker is presently £20,000 per worker. It also carries a two year prison sentence.

YOU MUST ALSO ASK THE HOME OFFICE TO CHECK THEIR STATUS IF THEY HAVE: • •

a digital or non-digital Certificate of Application that says you need to ask the Home Office to check their right to work an Application Registration Card

All other potential employees should have a valid visa to work in the UK.

The above information is a brief overview of the law and how it stands with employment of illegal workers. The following websites can take you through things step by step.

www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work.

After the 1st July 2021, all Non-UK or Eire nationals will be treated the same when it comes to work & residency status no matter which country they come from.

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk www.gov.uk/legal-right-to-work-in-the-uk WHILST ALL CARE IS TAKEN TO ENSURE ACCURACY THROUGHOUT THIS HANDBOOK, NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE TAKEN FOR THOSE ACTING ON OR REFRAINING TO ACT ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN.

For potential workers to access employment from the 1st July 2021 they should have a valid work Visa in place, prior to employment.

These can be obtained through sponsorship via the PBS (Points Based System) for which you would need a Sponsor Licence or through a valid worker scheme such as the Seasonal Worker Pilot.

The information above is subject to legislative change.

CHECK THAT: • • • • •

the documents aren’t expired (except UK passports, which can be expired) photos in the documents are a good resemblance to the employee. the date of birth on the document seems consistent with the employee’s appearance. the visa covers the type of work they’ll be doing (including any limit on the number of hours they can work). if two documents have different names stated, make sure there’s a good reason, eg. marriage or divorce.

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03 BEING AN EMPLOYER

GANGMASTERS & LABOUR ABUSE AUTHORITY (GLAA) The Immigration Act 2016 is designed to address labour exploitation & abuse across the UK. Specialist GLAA officers have been appointed & trained to investigate cases of severe exploitation across the entire UK labour market. The Licensing scheme remains for labour suppliers & users in the Food Processing & Packaging, Agriculture & Shellfish gathering industries.

•

Ensure that you provide a safe working environment.

• Co-operating with them to ensure the site of work complies with health and safety legislation.

• Ensure all workers have adequate and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• Ensure adequate arrangements have been made to provide welfare facilities including toilets, washing facilities and drinking water both on site and in the fields where it is required.

• Having your agreement with your provider in writing.

Failure to comply can lead to fines of up to £5000, imprisonment or both.

DOES YOUR BUSINESS UNDERTAKE WORK WHICH IS COVERED BY THE LICENSING SCHEME? The GLAA regulates those who supply labour or use workers to provide services in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, shellfish gathering, food processing and packaging.

The GLAA are responsible for ensuring that licensing standards are adhered to, and the businesses using labour providers are aware that they must only use licensed providers.

LABOUR USERS The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 includes a number of criminal offences that apply to both labour providers and labour users.

If you are supplied with labour and your business operates in the licensable sectors, you must only use GLAA licensed labour providers.

GLAA ACTIVE SERVICE The best way to keep up to date with your labour provider’s licence status is to register for the “active check” alerts service. This sends direct updates to keep you informed of any changes to your labour provider’s licence, such as a compliance inspection, additional licence conditions or a revocation.

The following list outlines the minimum requirements: • Check the GLAA register to see if your labour provider is licensed on www.gla.gov.uk • Co-operate with the labour provider to help ensure that they comply with the GLAA conditions.

64

•

Co-operate with the labour user to help ensure that they comply with the conditions that are set out by the GLAA. • Remember, it is your supplier licence that is at risk for failure to comply.

It’s very simple to sign up, you can make a check by calling the GLAA helpline on 0345 602 5020. Or you can check online, www.gla.gov.uk and follow these steps: • Register with the GLAA to get your own business checking account within their

FURTHER INFORMATION

ACTIVE CHECK PORTAL

It is advisable and good practice to regularly visit the GLAA website www.gla.gov.uk or use the link from Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd web page www.ringlinkscotland.co.uk to keep abreast of the regulations.

•

Search for your labour provider using their unique reference number (URN) • Confirm the details and check the person is named on the licence You can use your Government Gateway details from other Government services to enrol for the active check service.

Within the GLAA website, there are many useful links to other websites to give advice to both the labour provider and the labour supplier. Advice is also given in several languages to ensure the facts are fully understood. If you have any questions about the GLAA and how it might affect you or your business please contact:

LABOUR SUPPLIER OBLIGATIONS •

Register with the GLAA and obtain a licence, failure to do so is an offence which can lead to a £10,000 fine and imprisonment or both under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.

• Ensure that you comply with the licensing regulations at all times.

• Ensure that safe working practices are in operation on all sites where you supply workers.

• Ensure all workers have adequate and appropriate PPE.

communications@gla.gsi.gov.uk.

WHILST ALL POSSIBLE CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN COMPILING THIS HANDBOOK, NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OCCASIONED

BY ACTING ON OR REFRAINING TO ACT ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS HANDBOOK CAN BE ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLISHERS OR THEIR AGENTS.

65

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Ready Mix Concrete

Gravel & Aggregates

Fencing Materials

Sand

Blue Circle Cement

Drainage Pipes

DELIVERING THROUGHOUT SCOTLAND

TRAINING COURSES

04

Ringlink Services is your expert training provider, supplying relevant and 1,860 electricity contracts practical skills to workforces managed across the UK.

126

27.4m

We deliver a range of courses in agriculture,

graduates from the pre-apprenticeship programmeforestry, horticulture, construction, haulage and (over 9 years) much more.

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Maybe you’re looking to upskill or retrain to develop your own career?

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13,812 We have hundreds of fully accredited specialist tonnes courses to choose from, as well as the ability to of fertiliser buildsold bespoke training to your needs. Browse our courses in the following pages but don’t hesitate to get in touch for our expert advice on picking 170,000 the perfect training. incoming emails processed

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Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 67

LIQUID STORAGE TANKS PLASTIC OR STEEL - NEW OR USED

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Octopost is a Swedish manufactured product, octagonal shaped to differentiate its unique properties, starting with very slow grown Swedish pine, kiln dried, square pointed and pressure heat treated with creosote. This provides a life expectancy often in excess of 40 years with a manufacturers guarantee of 25 years.

The posts undergo the same high quality process as the companies main core production of telegraph poles.

TEL 01888 511203 enquiries@jfsupplies.co.uk

04 TRAINING - CONTENTS

Forestry & Arboriculture

71 Forestry Training

Utility Arboriculture

74 Utility Arboriculture

Pesticides 77 Pesticides

Plant & Machinery

79 Plant

ATVs and Off-Road Driving

84 ATV

First Aid

85 First Aid

Driver CPC

87 Driver CPC

Health & Safety

89

H&S Health & Safety

Sprayer Operator

91

Forklift Training

93 Forklift

We welcomed

8,391

trainees last year

69

04 TRAINING Forestry Training

FORESTRY & ARBORICULTURE From felling trees to aerial pruning, chainsaw maintenance to tree survey and inspection, our range of courses provides the skills needed to work in forestry.

PROFESSIONAL TREE INSPECTION

ASSISTED TREE FELLING

An advanced course, you’ll need to be an experienced and qualified inspector with an in-depth knowledge of plant and arboricultural science. You’ll learn how to clearly and competently inspect potentially hazardous trees.

Assisted felling is an essential skill for many people working in the forestry and arboricultural sectors. Our course helps you build on the skills and experience you already possess.

BASIC TREE INSPECTION

FELLING AND PROCESSING TREES UP TO 380MM

Identifying hazardous trees is a vital part of a number of jobs, from park rangers to estate workers. Our training is designed to help you recognise and then report issues to an appropriate expert.

The danger involved in felling trees is common knowledge; how to carry out the work safely and effectively is not as well known. Our course gives you the confidence and expertise to tackle this hazardous job from start to finish

CHAINSAW MAINTENANCE AND CROSS-CUTTING

FELLING AND PROCESSING TREES OVER 380MM

This is a hands-on course that delivers both practical skills and health and safety guidance.

Ideal if you’re working on farms, in woodland, on building sites or in conservation, you’ll gain the expertise needed to use and maintain a chainsaw.

Tree-felling takes a skilled and confident practitioner to carry it out both safely and efficiently. That’s what you’ll become at the end of our intensive three-day training course.

Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 71

04 TRAINING Forestry Training

FORESTRY & ARBORICULTURE-CONTINUED

SEVER UPROOTED OR WIND-BLOWN TREES USING A CHAINSAW (INDIVIDUAL)

AERIAL CUTTING OF TREES WITH A CHAINSAW USING FREE FALL TECHNIQUES

This is a hands-on course that delivers both practical skills and health and safety guidance as well as demonstrating that you and your employer have completed sufficient training to meet the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

This course provides the knowledge and skills required for learners to be assessed for the regulated qualification, Level 3 award in aerial cutting of trees with a chainsaw using free fall techniques AERIAL TREE PRUNING

SEVER UPROOTED OR WIND-BLOWN TREES USING A CHAINSAW (MULTIPLE)

Our course provides you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to carry out aerial pruning of a tree. It’s designed for anyone over the age of 16 who already has experience of climbing trees using work-positioning systems.

Chainsaws are powerful and dangerous tools. And using them to sever wind-blown trees is potentially hazardous work. It is vital to maintain and develop your expertise and knowledge to stay skilled and safe. Our course helps you do just that.

AERIAL TREE RIGGING This advanced aerial technique allows the safe and controlled removal of sections of tree, and can be specially useful in the urban environment due to the high likelihood of buildings and other infrastructure being in the drop zone.

TREE CLIMBING & AERIAL RESCUE This is a hands-on course that delivers both practical skills and health and safety guidance, as well as demonstrating that you and your employer have completed sufficient training to meet the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).

WOODCHIPPER Our course will teach you how to operate a woodchipper safely and with confidence. popular pieces of equipment used in industries from arboriculture to woodland preservation, they’re powerful tools that have the potential to cause injury if used incorrectly.

Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 73

04 TRAINING Utility Arboriculture

UTILITY ARBORICULTURE Our utility arboriculture courses are designed specifically for those working around utility services. From recognising species of tree to arboricultural surveys, pruning to felling, our range of courses provides you with the skills needed to manage trees and woodlands.

LEVEL 3 Certificate of Competence in Utility Arboriculture Aerial Pruning (0038-33)

LEVEL 3 Certificate of Competence in Utility Arboriculture Basic Electrical Knowledge (0038-30)

This course covers hazards, risk, controls, emergency procedures, industry guides and potential environmental damage, site zoning, tree condition assessment, working at height assessment, tree factors and characteristics and aerial tree pruning.

This course covers hazards, risks, controls, emergency planning, legislation, equipment and resources, tree types and condition, safety documentation, ground clearance and safety zones, tree electrical categories, overhead line components, industry good practice, roles and responsibilities.

LEVEL 3 Certificate of Competence in Utility Arboriculture Assisted Tree Felling (0038-34)

LEVEL 3 Certificate of Competence in Utility Arboriculture Tree Species Recognition, Growth Characteristics and Associated Hazards (0038-31)

This course covers hazards, risks, controls, emergency procedures, records and assisted felling practices, procedures and techniques.

This course covers tree species identification, growth characteristics and associated hazards.

LEVEL 4 Certificate of Competence in Utility Arboriculture Surveyor (0038-40) This course covers legislation, regulation and sector guidance requirements, process, and procedures for carrying out a utility survey.

LEVEL 3 Certificate of Competence in Utility Arboriculture Ground-based Pruning (0038-32) This course covers hazards, risks, controls, emergency procedures, site specifics and tree categories, as well as electrical methods of work ground-based pruning.

74

04 TRAINING Utility Arboriculture

UTILITY ARBORICULTURE-CONTINUED based pre-survey, tree inspection equipment, survey information, fungal decay organisms, notifiable pests and diseases, factors for hardwood woodlands and softwood forestry plantations, risk rating, machinery for tree management and tree inspection.

LEVEL 4 Certificate of Competence in ETR 132 Resilience Arboricultural Surveyor (0038-41) This course covers hazards, risks and controls, reasons behind undertaking an Electrical Technical Report (ETR) 132 survey, office-

IOSH IOSH Working Working Safely Safely IOSH Managing IOSH Managing Safely Safely Manual Handling/ Manual Handling/ IOSH Working Safely IOSH Working Safely Safe lifting lifting Techniques Techniques Safe IOSHManaging ManagingSafely Safely IOSH COSHH COSHH Manual Handling/ Manual Handling/ Site Safety Safety Awareness Awareness Site Safe liftingTechniques Techniques Safe lifting Working at at Heights Heights Working COSHH COSHH SiteSafety SafetyAwareness Awareness Site Workingat atHeights Heights Working

75

HOME IN THE RANGER

AMAZING MEMBER DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE ON THE FORD RANGER Contact your local Ringlink office for full details. T & C’s apply Minimum membership of 6 months to qualify for discount

04 TRAINING Pesticides

PESTICIDES Pesticides are widely used across many land-based industries and it’s essential they are handled, applied and stored correctly.

Our range of courses teach you how to do just that.

SAFE USE OF PESTICIDES

BOOM SPRAYER

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture and horticulture. But they can be potentially harmful substances, so a thorough appreciation of safe working practices is vital. Our course is tailor-made for people responsible for the storage, handling and application of pesticides.

Pesticides are widely used across many land-based industries. But they can be potentially harmful substances. It’s essential they are handled, applied and stored correctly.

Our course is designed for anyone who uses vehicle-mounted or trailer boom spraying equipment (hydraulic nozzle) as part of their work.

ALUMINIUM PHOSPHIDE

HAND-HELD APPLICATOR

Aluminium phosphide is a dangerous compound. Our course gives you a full working knowledge of the relevant commercial products and application equipment. It’s ideal for anyone using aluminium phosphide in a commercial environment, such as pest control operatives, farmers, gamekeepers and greenkeepers.

Pesticides are widely used across many land-based industries and it’s essential they are handled, applied and stored correctly.

Our course is designed for anyone who uses hand-held applicators with a hydraulic nozzle as part of their work.

Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 77

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04 TRAINING Plant

PLANT & MACHINERY From excavators to lift trucks, tractors to dumpers, our range of plant & machinery courses helps you develop your skills. They include specific training for particular vehicle types for you to develop the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely.

RIDE-ON MOWERS

TRACTOR DRIVING: 13-15 YEAR OLDS

A wide range of mowers are used across horticultural and landscape businesses. Our course makes sure you can operate a ride-on mower safely and efficiently.

Rural industry has a long and proud tradition of giving young workers the opportunity to learn on the job. Our course lets younger workers develop or expand on the skills and knowledge required to operate a tractor safely and competently.

PEDESTRIAN MOWERS With proper training, most mowers little risk to either the user or anyone near to the machine.

Our course will give you that training, ensuring you can operate a pedestrian mower safely and efficiently. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll receive a certificate of competence.

TRACTOR DRIVING: INITIAL

ABRASIVE WHEELS

TRACTOR DRIVING: EXPERIENCED OPERATOR

This course gives you the skills, knowledge and confidence to operate an abrasive wheel machine safely for cutting and/or grinding operations, protecting both you and those around you.

The tractor is an essential piece of machinery for so many businesses and operating it safely and efficiently is absolutely vital.

The tractor is an essential piece of machinery for so many businesses and operating it safely and efficiently is absolutely vital. Our instructors will steer you through the entire tractor-driving process.

79

04 TRAINING Plant

PLANT & MACHINERY-CONTINUED ARM-MOUNTED CUTTING EQUIPMENT Attachments such as the arm-mounted cutter give tractors an unrivalled versatility when it comes to rural work. Our course teaches you how to operate this useful tool safely and competently.

SKID STEER LOADER This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate a skid steer loader safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers two certificate options: operating either a tracked or wheeled machine, depending on your needs.

RIDE-ON ROLLER LOADING SHOVEL

This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate a ride-on roller safely, protecting both you and those around you.

This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate a loading shovel safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers two certificate options: operating either a tracked or wheeled machine, depending on your needs.

DUMP TRUCK This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate a dump truck safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers a range of certificate options depending on your needs: articulated chassis up to 15 tonnes, articulated chassis above 15 tonnes, rigid chassis up to 15 tonnes tracked, rigid chassis up to 50 tonnes tracked, rigid chassis up to 15 tonnes wheeled, or rigid chassis up to 50 tonnes wheeled.

Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 80

04 TRAINING Plant

PLANT & MACHINERY-CONTINUED FORWARD TIPPING DUMPER

360° TRACKED EXCAVATOR

Forward tipping dumpers are considered to have one of the highest rates of accidents, causing serious injuries and even fatalities.

This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you.

This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers a range of certificate options depending on your needs: below ten tonnes, above ten tonnes, or excavators used as cranes.

360° WHEELED EXCAVATOR

180° EXCAVATOR

This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you.

It offers a range of certificate options depending on your needs: below ten tonnes, above ten tonnes, or excavators used as cranes.

This course gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers a range of certificate options depending on your needs: below five tonnes, above five tonnes, or excavators used as cranes.

81

The benefits of liquid: The use of liquid fertilisers can help your farm be more efficient, productive and sustainable.

Quickly absorbed by the plant, the optimum mix of ammonium, ureic and nitrate sources in our fertilisers allows crops to get a head start in cooler or adverse ground conditions.

The nitrogen remains available for longer so your crops reach their full potential.

Leading sustainability: The Nitrasol system results in a winning combination of about a fifth lower emissions of ammonia and carbon and about half the logistical steps that risk contamination, waste and leakage from one of the most impactful inputs in UK agriculture.

Easy conversion: We have a bespoke four stage on-farm process to ease your conversion, which might include the option of supplying and managing the installation of one or more on-farm tanks.

Our tank options: Our tank options are all purpose built in the UK, offering class leading technology to help you keep your liquid fertiliser product clean, safe and secure.

30m3 Tanks: We have a choice of 30m3 tanks based on robust GRP or rotary moulded plastic. Each will hold 35 tonnes or one load and is suitable for an annual throughput of 100 tonnes or four full loads per year.

50m3 Tanks: Each branded 50m3 GRP tank will hold 60 tonnes or two loads and is suitable for an annual throughput of 180-200 tonnes or 7 full loads per year.

The Nitrasol Product Range: Straight Nitrogen Liquid Fertilisers

Nitrogen & Sulphur Liquid Fertilisers

Quickly absorbed by the plant, Nitrasol straight liquid nitrogen fertilisers have the optimum balance of nitrogen from nitrate, ammonium & ureic sources.

We formulate our products with sulphur from two different sources which can balance cost and slow the release of nitrogen whilst reducing ammonia emissions on certain soils.

AdvaNShield Protected Fertilisers

Specialist Foliar & Micronutrients Fertilisers

Our AdvaNShield range provides protected nitrogen which can be combined with our agronomically optimised sulphur grades to meet emerging regulatory requirements and end-customer demands.

Our range of foliar micronutrients fertilisers range includes boron, manganese and magnesium formulations and Nitrapro urea solutions with ATS. They are available in bulk by road tanker or supplied next-day by courier in 1000 litre non-returnable IBC containers.

Our Terminals: Our terminals are strategically located in two east coast ports to ensure comprehensive national coverage from Scotland to the South Coast. This way, we can provide: NATIONAL COVERAGE - DEDICATED PIPELINES - STRATEGIC STORAGE TOTAL CONTAINMENT - RAPID REPLENISHMENT

Sales Enquiries: 01493 809828

General Enquiries: 01493 809820

Email: sales@nitrasol.co.uk

Haulage Enquiries: 01493 809826

Web: www.nitrasol.co.uk

04 TRAINING ATV

ATVS AND OFF-ROAD DRIVING Anyone driving an off-road vehicle will benefit from our targeted courses. You may be looking to update your skills or get on board with the latest health and safety regulations.

Whatever your needs, our courses will get your off-road driving skills up to speed.

ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SIT-IN SKID STEER

ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SIT-ASTRIDE

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs, also known as quad bikes or quadbikes) are incredibly versatile and can master many off-road conditions. Our course boosts your driving skills, enabling you to use a tracked ATV safely and with confidence. You’ll also learn the fundamentals of loading, as well as key health and safety issues.

The flexibility of sit-astride all-terrain vehicles (ATV), also known as quad bikes and all-terrain cycles means they can work with a range of attachments, including trailers, sprayers and spreaders. Whatever your needs, our courses get your driving skills up to speed.

ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SIT-IN CONVENTIONAL STEER

Anyone driving an off-road vehicle will benefit from our targeted courses. You may be looking to update your skills or get on board with the latest health and safety regulations.

Perhaps you want to practise driving across challenging terrain or mastering your vehicle in difficult weather conditions. Whatever your needs, our courses will get your off-road driving skills up to speed.

4×4 OFF-ROAD VEHICLE

Sit-in conventional steer all-terrain vehicles are incredibly versatile machines, making them popular tools of the trade for agricultural businesses. But their flexibility means that even the most experienced rider can find themselves in potentially dangerous situations.

Whatever your needs, our courses get your driving skills up to speed.

Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 84

04 TRAINING First Aid

FIRST AID This course covers a range of practical skills, including how to spot the signs of mental illness and have the confidence to approach someone who may be in need of professional help.

EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK (1 DAY)

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AWARENESS (1 DAY)

Upon completion of the course, candidates will understand the role of the first aider, the importance of preventing cross-infection, the need for recording incidents and actions and how to use available equipment.

This course covers a range of practical skills, including how to spot the signs of mental illness and have the confidence to approach someone who may be in need of professional help.

FIRST AID AT WORK REFRESHER (2 DAYS)

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID SUPERVISOR (2 DAYS)

The content of this course is designed to update an existing first aider’s knowledge and skills, as well as introducing new techniques and procedures.

This course provides a deeper understanding to the above course of mental health factors that can affect people’s wellbeing.

FIRST AID AT WORK (3 DAYS) This course teaches candidates how to deal with resuscitation, bleeding, care of the unconscious casualty, shock, hypoxia, diabetic and epileptic emergencies, burns, fractures, poisoning, infection control and simple record keeping.

+FORESTRY (F) FIRST AID (1 – 3 DAYS) In addition to the First aid at work and Emergency first aid courses, the + Forestry content teaches candidates about the additional dangers associated with working as part of a team in a forestry or outdoor setting.

We offer first aid training for organisations of all sizes and across all sectors. From providing emergency first aid to mental health support, our courses help you keep your teams safe and healthy in the workplace.

85

HIGHLAND CEREAL CONTRACTS LTD AGRICULTURAL & HAULAGE CONTRACTORS

WANTED – ARABLE GROUND FOR COMBINABLE CROPS – BLACK ISLE, EASTER ROSS & SUROUNDING AREAS BSL REGISTERED – SUPPLIER OF G30 WOODCHIP FOR BIOMAS BOILERS TASCC REGISTERED FOR HAULAGE ALL STRAW BOUGHT & SOLD CALL HUNTER: 07793 826101 / E-MAIL – ACCOUNTS@HIGHLANDCEREAL.CO.UK

04 TRAINING Driver CPC

DRIVER CPC DRIVER CERTIFICATE OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE (CPC) IS NEEDED TO DRIVE A LORRY, BUS OR COACH. You must do 35 hours of periodic training every five years to keep your Driver CPC. Our classroom-based course covers safe and fuel-efficient driving, legal requirements and health & safety, as well as service and logistics.

DRIVER CPC This is a classroom-based course which covers elements of safe and fuel-efficient driving, legal requirements and health & safety, service and logistics.

Ringlink provides a very professional service … their instructors are very practical and down to earth and make the training accessible to all.

Centre Operations Manager ANM Group, Thainstone

Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 87

H&S

04 TRAINING

Health & Safety

HEALTH & SAFETY Health and safety training develops a positive health and safety culture, where safe and healthy working becomes second nature to everyone. It also means you know how to work safely and without risks to health and meets the legal duty to protect the health and safety of employees.

HEALTH AND SAFETY – WORKING AT HEIGHTS

IOSH WORKING SAFELY The course gives an outline of occupational safety & health, defining hazards and risks, identifying the most common hazards and how to improve safety performance. Working safely is for people at any level, in any sector worldwide, who need a grounding in the essentials of safety and health. It gives everyone at work an understanding of why they must “work safely” – and does it in an enjoyable way.

This course teaches the specific needs relating to health and safety when working at height and looks at a variety of scenarios you may encounter in your workplace. It promotes consistent, good health and safety practice.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS – CONSTRUCTION This course develops your knowledge and confidence, so that you can work on a construction site safely. This course is for you if you are looking to join, are employed in or wishing to progress in, the construction and fencing industries.

IOSH MANAGING SAFELY This course covers assessing and controlling risks, understanding responsibilities and hazards, investigating incidents and measuring performance. Managing safely is designed for managers and supervisors in any sector, and any organisation.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS – FENCING This course develops your knowledge and confidence, so that you can work as a fencing installer safely with regard to the regulation and law which applies to health and safety in the construction workplace.

Approved training provider 89

04 TRAINING

SPRAYER OPERATOR BASES

High quality trainers!

This year’s course has been divided into 3 sections and will firstly consider Current issues that affect us locally and nationally.

Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) is the industry leader in the certification of crops for Scottish growers. Circa 13,000 delegates have now attended the SQC Sprayer Operator Course organised and delivered by Ringlink over the last 16 years. This partnership has allowed for direct involvement from SQC - working with Ringlink on an annual basis to ensure the course content is always relevant for our Scottish growers. The importance of annual training cannot be emphasised enough - with ongoing change to regulation, health and safety measures and technology, we all must stay up to date. This is integral to our assurance scheme and all growers businesses. Making best use of high quality trainers, Ringlink continue to deliver what is needed to our growers on the ground.

This will followed with a section on Application flowed by Technology and Tips. This course will finish with a review and reflection of the course.

MAY Musselburgh Kelso Keith Inverurie Coupar Angus Ellon

23-May 24-May 25-May 26-May 29-May 30-May

JUNE Cupar Laurencekirk Falkirk Online

01-Jun 05-Jun 06-Jun 07-Jun

Teresa Dougall, Managing Director Scottish Quality Crops

Call 01561 376 000 or Email: training@ringlinkservices.co.uk Find out more at our website: ringlinkservices.co.uk 91

Specialising in Estate, Farm & Forestry Assets Farm & Estate Sales & Acquisitions Property & Land Management Renewable Energy Rural Management Agricultural Loans Sales & Lettings Subsidy Trading & Advice Call Rod Christie on 07766 250 797 or visit our website for a full list of our services and contact details

04 TRAINING Forklift

FORKLIFT TRAINING A forklift is a large, powerful industrial truck that moves and stores materials safely and efficiently. That is why it is important for employers to provide their employees with the appropriate forklift operator training.

SIDELOADER

COUNTERBALANCE FORKLIFT

This course will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers three certificate options depending on your needs.

This course is for you if you need to become proficient in safely operating a counterbalance lift truck. It equips you with the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you. This course offers three certificate options depending on your needs.

ROUGH TERRAIN MASTED This training course has been developed to help you understand how to operate a rough terrain masted lift truck safely. The amount of instruction you will require will depend largely upon your previous experience and sessions will be adapted to meet your needs.

ROUGH TERRAIN TELESCOPIC This course is for you if you need to become proficient in safely operating a rough terrain telescopic lift truck. It gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers three certificate options depending on your needs: without stabilisers – articulated, or with stabilisers.

INDUSTRIAL TELESCOPIC This course is for you if you need to become proficient in safely operating an industrial telescopic lift truck. It equips you with the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you. This course offers two certificate options depending on your needs

REACH TRUCK This course is for you if you need to become proficient in safely operating a reach lift truck.

It gives you the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely, protecting both you and those around you. It offers two certificate options depending on your needs: up to and including 8m, or over 8m.

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04 TRAINING

E-LEARNING We have a selection of courses that can be completed online, offering a more flexible and convenient method of learning.

Learn from the comfort of your own office or home at a time that suits you.

With no need to travel and few printed materials, this is definitely a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to learn.

Get in touch for more information or to discuss the full range of courses.

BECOME AN ASSESSOR Whether you’re an expert in chainsaws or skilled in plant and machinery, a specialist in pest control or know your way around a tractor, why not become a Lantra instructor?

Find out more by getting in touch with Lantra at www.lantra.co.uk

T: 02476 696996 E: instructornetwork@lantra.co.uk

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TRAINING INSTRUCTOR PROFILE Nigel Widdowson, Birkenhill Farm, Fordyce

Job role: We have a sheep farm and a firewood business.

I am also a Freelance Trainer and Assessor for Lantra teaching and assessing the following: Tractor Driving, Sit-Astride All Terrain Vehicles, Woodchippers and Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting.

I find training to be a very positive experience and I get tremendous personal satisfaction from the positive feedback received. Knowing that I am having a positive impact on a trainee and aiding their learning and development, is extremely rewarding.

How did you get into this role?

Having acquired several Lantra qualifications for my farm and forestry operations and 30 years as a trainer it was a natural progression to get accreditation through Lantra to be an Instructor and Assessor for various pieces of equipment.

What’s the funniest or strangest thing that has happened on one of your courses?

I recently had a guy who had forgotten to tighten the side nuts on his chainsaw. When he started it the chain, bar and side plate all dropped on the floor and he just stood there revving up the power unit with the rest of his chainsaw in bits. He stood there for several seconds wondering why his co-workers were taking photos of him. They aren’t going to let him live that down for a long time.

In an average week, how many hours do you work and how many miles do you travel?

The type of work is very seasonal. Over a year I would average a couple of days per week, and I travel anywhere in Scotland, wherever the work takes me.

Advice for anyone thinking of becoming an instructor?

Enthusiasm is key. If you are enthusiastic about the subject you are teaching, then you can pass that onto your candidates and they learn all the better for it.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I don’t really have spare time. I always seem to be busy doing something, however I do take time out each day to train my gundogs.

What are the best and worst bits about your job?

The best thing is the big smile on a candidate’s face when they master a new skill. The sense of achievement is written all over their faces.

I don’t believe there is a downside to my job,

Any plans for the future?

About 10 years ago, I consciously tried taking it easy but got bored after about 2 hours so as long as I stay fit, I will stay busy.

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REFERENCE

05

Ringlink Scotland is the UK’s largest business ring with a membership of more than 3,200.

As part of the Ringlink community, this section provides some helpful reference material for you to use in running your business, keeping your workplace safe, efficient and compliant.

If there is other information you’d like to see in future handbooks, let us know next time you’re talking to us, or get in touch: our contact details are on the back cover

Save money on your business’s utility bills HSE: staying safe and healthy in the workplace Vehicles and driving: what you need to know

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05 REFERENCE

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

1in3

Mental illness is one of the major public health challenges in Scotland with 1 in every 3 people estimated to be affected in any one year.

88%

89%

89% of young farmers believe that by talking about mental health – this will help to remove any stigma attached to it.

Current research within the agricultural community conducted by the Farm Safety Foundation revealed that 88% of famers under the age 40 now believe that mental health illness is the biggest danger facing the industry.

REACH OUT… If you or someone you know is experiencing any mental health difficulties – please, please reach out for support. This could be by chatting to a friend or family member or your doctor or one of the many mental health charities who have dedicated volunteers.

RSABI www.rsabi.org.uk Tel: 0808 1234 555 (freephone, open 24 hours) email: helpline@rsabi.org.uk

SAMH www.samh.org.uk Tel: 0344 800 0550 (available Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm) email: info@samh.org.uk

Samaritans: www.samaritans.org Tel: 116 123 (freephone, open 24 hours 365 days) Email: jo@samaritans.org

Want to learn more…find out how you may be able to help SCQF Level 5 Award: Award in First Aid for Mental Health (1 day) This course is designed to help the learner identify the signs and symptoms that may indicate that someone is suffering with poor mental health. It will also give them the skill and confidence to start a conversation and signpost the person towards help.

SCQF Level 6 Award: Award in Leading First Aid for Mental Health (2 days) This course considers a wide range of mental health conditions and goes into details on the range of therapy and professional support available. This course is suitable for all persons within a workplace and is perhaps aimed more at supervisory/managerial level and those who have a responsibility for implementing a positive mental health culture.

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05 REFERENCE

HEALTH & SAFETY All businesses have a legal duty to provide information, training and supervision to employees to enable them to carry out their work safely. This costs money and time - both of which may be in short supply.

Ensuring a safe and healthy working environment should be a key priority for everyone at work, it requires real competence and not just good intentions.

But agriculture has the worst rate of worker fatal injury (per 100,000) of all the main industry sectors, with the annual average rate over the last five years around 21 times as high as the all-industry rate.

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive show 25 people were killed as a result of farming and other agriculture-related activities during the year.

Investing in safety training will allow your employees to identify hazards and adopt safe and healthy working practices, and help avoid the pain, anguish and financial costs that accidents and ill health can cause.

More than a third of the workers killed were aged 65 years or older. The youngest person killed was a nine-year-old child.

A new guide called “What a good farm looks like” is free to download from the HSE website and signposts danger areas to Farmers and where they can find further information.

“What a good farm looks like” is free to download at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/ resources/good-farm.htm

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05 REFERENCE

HEALTH & SAFETY NEAR MISS REPORTING Some models suggest that for every accident there are approximately 90 near misses. If there is a good reporting system in place, the hazard could be dealt with before someone is injured. You can use the near miss form on the facing page to help you.

A simple, and potentially anonymous, system for reporting near-miss incidents is a very important way of identifying problem areas.

This will help you highlight some of the less obvious hazards in a workplace, or identify areas where a problem is developing.

It can be difficult to get staff to report nearmisses or minor slip accidents, as they are often seen as funny or embarrassing occurrences (until someone is hurt).

It is important to create a culture which encourages reporting of these accidents.

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05 REFERENCE NEAR-MISS INCIDENT REPORT OR H&S IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTION This form may be used by any member of staff, visitor or member of the public to bring to the attention any matter or suggestion which is believed might influence the health and safety of the working environment. The form must not be used for reporting accidents where either people or buildings were injured or damaged. An Accident Incident report form should be used in such cases.

Date of incident

Time of incident

Location: (Please be as accurate as possible)

Name of person reporting : (Leave blank if you prefer but adding contact details will give us the opportunity to feed back where possible).

Title

Forename(s)

Surname

Current residential address

Post Code

Description of incident: Please use this space to record the near-miss or incident, or to make a comment or suggestions for improvement.

Why do you consider the near-miss or incident dangerous?

What immediate action have you taken following the near-miss or incident to prevent a similar occurrence?

Please forward this completed form to the Senior Manager on site / appointed H&S representative.

Form received by:

Date:

Action taken:

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05 REFERENCE

WORKING WITH MACHINERY Just over 1 in 100 workers work in agriculture, but it accounts for about 1 in 5 fatal injuries to workers.

SAFE VEHICLE



Check that machines are: • Suitable for the work • Inspected daily • Faults repaired • Properly maintained, especially brakes

SAFE STOP



1 Fully apply handbrake 2 Put all controls in neutral 3 Switch off engine 4 Remove key from ignition

SAFE DRIVER



Check that drivers are: • Medically fit to drive • Properly trained • Know how to safely enter and exit the vehicle

WORKING WITH LIVESTOCK One of the biggest risks in agriculture is livestock. It’s your responsibility to keep yourself, employees, and the public safe from livestock.

HSE Inspectors look for • Proper handling facilities in place and in good working order • A race a crush suitable for the animals being handled • Trained and competent workers • A rigorous culling policy for temperamental animals

 Caution Caution Farm livestock with their young An online-sign.com production. Visit www.online-sign.com to customise this and other signs

An online-sign.com production. Visit www.online-sign.com to customise this and other signs

WORKING AT HEIGHTS Falls are one of the highest causes of injuries and the third biggest cause of fatalities in agriculture, often caused by falls from ladders or through fragile surfaces.

The Law advises You: • Avoid work at height where you can • Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls • Use work equipment that minimises the distance and consequence of a fall

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 Caution An online-sign.com production. Visit www.online-sign.com to customise this and other signs

05 REFERENCE

HEALTH & SAFETY: REDUCING THE RISK GET YOUR TEAM - OR YOURSELF UP TO SPEED WITH OUR SPECIALIST HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING Avoid a non-compliance result and reduce the risk of paying the HSE £157 per hour.

Ringlink offers expert advice and support on health & safety and risk management.

Give us a call to discuss how we can help on 01561 376 000 The Health & Safety Executive also has an online publication relevant for everyone working on farms called Farmwise: your essential guide to health and safety in agriculture Download a copy at www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture In addition, health and safety training from Ringlink Services develops a positive health and safety culture, where safe and healthy working becomes second nature to everyone.

It also means you know how to work safely and without risks to health and meets the legal duty to protect the health and safety of employees.

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ELECTRIC

BIKES FOR MORE INFORMATION

SCAN CODE

INVERNESS: 15-17 Henderson Road, Longman Industrial Estate, Inverness, IV1 1SN, tel. 01463 717 999 sales@macgregorsupplies.co.uk

ELGIN: 16-18 Perimeter Road, Pinefield Industrial Estate, Elgin, IV30 6AF, tel. 01343 514 424

ABERDEEN: Hareness Road, Altens Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, AB12 3LE, tel. 01224 896 406 www.macgregorsupplies.co.uk

05 REFERENCE

VEHICLES AND DRIVING-AGE RESTRICTIONS CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

MINIMUM AGE

A

Motor bicycles

17-21*

AM

Moped, with a maximum designed speed over 25km/h but no more than 45km/h

16

B

Goods vehicles not over 3.5t and passenger vehicle with no more than nine seats (including the driver’s seat).

17

B+E

Combination of a vehicle in category B and a trailer weighing up to 3,500kg max authorised mass. The load & weight limit for each vehicle can be found on the manufacturer’s plate or in the handbook. Please refer to this for permitted gross train weight of the vehicle

17

B1

Sub-category of B. Motor vehicles having three or four wheels and an unladen weight not over 550kg.

17

C

Goods vehicles over 3.5t. A trailer up to 750kg may be towed.

18-21*

C+E

Combination of a vehicle in category C and a trailer over 750kg. This covers both articulated and drawbar combinations.

18-21*

C1

Goods vehicles over 3.5t but not over 7.5t.

A trailer up to 750kg may be towed.

18-21*

105

Providing exceptional service and quality machinery to our customers for over

20 years Now official ASSC distributors of the CAT compact range!

TEL: 01343 860 556

Ringlink Ad 2023.indd 2

WWW.MARKGARRICKLTD.CO.UK

10/01/2023 09:14

05 REFERENCE

VEHICLES AND DRIVING-AGE RESTRICTIONS CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION

MINIMUM AGE

C1 +E

Combination of a vehicle in category C1 and a trailer over 750 kg but not more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle. The total combination may not exceed 12 tonne.

18-21*

D

Passenger vehicle with more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat. A trailer up to 750kg may be towed.

18-21*

D+E

Combination of a category D vehicle with a trailer over 750kg.

18-21*

D1

Sub-category of D. Passenger vehicle with more than eight seats but no more than 16 seats in addition to the driver’s seat. A trailer up to 750kg may be towed.

18-21*

D1+E

Combination of a vehicle in category D1 and a trailer with a MAM over 750kg but not more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle. The total combination MAM may not exceed 12 tonne.

18-21*

F

Agricultural Tractor. You can apply for a provisional tractor entitlement then take a test to drive tractors less than 2.45m wide and towing trailer less than 2.45m wide with 2 wheels or 4 close-coupled wheels.

16

Agricultural Tractor - any size

17

The above table is for guidance only, full details can be found on: www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories *age restrictions may apply 107

05 REFERENCE

FARMVEHICLES VEHICLES ON FARM ONTHE THEROAD ROAD Vehicle

Licence Age Category

F

Restrictions

OFF-ROAD OFF-ROAD Age

Requirements

Up to 2.45m wide, trailer also up to 2.45m wide with 16 2 wheels or 4 close-coupled wheels (no more than 840mm apart)

13

31,000kgs maximum tractor and trailer weight

16

Certificate of competence required

16

Certificate of competence required

16

Certificate of competence required

16

Adequate training required

16

Certificate of competence required

16

Certificate of competence required

F

17

B1

Up to 400kgs or 550kgs 17 unladen if designed to carry loads

B

17

Above 550kgs

B

17

Up to 3.5t

B

18

Between 3.5t and 7.5t

B

21

Above 7.5t

B

21

Speed restrictions vary depending on width.

B

17

Up to 3.5t

B

18

Between 3.5t and 7.5t

B

21

Above 7.5t

17

Up to 3.5t

H

21

No restrictions.

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Certificate of competence required. Very limited in what PTO driven equipment can be used. Fertiliser spreaders, rakes or hay bobs

05 REFERENCE

VEHICLES AND DRIVING-HAULAGE It is also essential to have adequate GiT insurance cover when transporting your own goods.

GOODS IN TRANSIT It is important to be aware that goods being transported come under a separate insurance policy known as Goods in Transit (GiT) and not the motor vehicle cover.

IT’S THE LAW The legislation covering agricultural vehicles is complex and subject to change, due to the wide variety of vehicles used and their application. The information below is provided as a general guide to assist your business to operate safely and within the law.

In most cases hauliers have adequate cover and there is never an issue but if high value goods are being hauled it is important to make sure the haulier has adequate cover and under what conditions they adhere to ie. RHA, FTA.

SPEED LIMITS Less than 2.55m wide with 2 Sprung Axles 40mph Up to 3.5m wide 25mph AGRICULTURAL TRAILERS - WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS 18,290 kg is the maximum (gross or fully laden) weight of an agricultural trailer.

31,000 kg is the maximum (gross or fully laden) weight of an agricultural combination (tractor plus trailer).

The maximum length of an agricultural trailer is normally 12m.

In the case of a “composite trailer” (semi-trailer and converter dolly) the maximum length is 14.04m.

In the case of an agricultural trailed appliance (with gross weight less than double the unladen weight) the maximum length is 15m.

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05 REFERENCE

VEHICLES AND DRIVING-IT’S THE LAW The legislation covering agricultural vehicles is complex and subject to change, due to the wide variety of vehicles used and their application. The information below is provided as a general guide to assist your business to operate safely and within the law.

NUMBER PLATES

ROAD TAX

Trailer number plates must match a vehicle from the same firm.

The following vehicles are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty -

LIGHTS & MIRRORS

Tractors - used only for purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture or forestry

• • • •

Trailers: Rear Light Clusters & Front White Side Lights Tractors: No rear facing White Lights switched on Mirrors Un-obscured rearward vision beyond the vehicle Mount Implements Projecting > 2in Extra Rear Light Clusters

Off-road tractors - one designed and constructed primarily for use otherwise than on roads, and incapable by reason of its construction of exceeding a speed of 25 mph on the level, under its own power.

Light agricultural vehicles - a vehicle which has a weight not exceeding 1,000 kilograms, is designed and constructed so as to seat only the driver, is designed and constructed primarily for use otherwise than on roads, and is used solely for purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture or forestry.

AMBER BEACONS Always use flashing amber lights when driving on dual carriageways. If the trailer is higher than the beacon on your tractor, an additional beacon should be placed on the rear of the trailer to ensure you are clearly visible to other road users.

Other vehicles used between different parts of land. A vehicle is an exempt vehicle if: (a) it is used only for purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture or forestry

FUEL Rebated fuel (red diesel) may only be used for agricultural vehicles whilst engaged in agricultural activities. Derv must be used for all other vehicles / activities, except where an exemption exists.

(b) it is used on public roads only in passing between different areas of land occupied by the same person, and (c) the distance it travels on public roads in passing between any two such areas does not exceed 1.5 kilometres.

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CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS Loads of up to 10t are exempt from the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations for distances under 12km between agricultural land.

This refers to agricultural or forestry tractors that do not travel at a speed exceeding 40km/h when transporting dangerous goods; or any trailer being towed by such a vehicle.

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05 REFERENCE

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BUSINESS’S UTILITY BILLS Be like our 1,500 other contracted members and let Ringlink take the stress of dealing with your electricity contract, with a competitive price to match.

Smart meters support the transition to a low-carbon energy system by unlocking new approaches to managing demand.

ELECTRICITY: ARE YOU READY TO SWITCH? Now working directly with npower we aim to provide you with a further enhanced service, resolving any billing queries and contract renewals in a timely manner.

Advanced Meter Readings/data loggers (AMR) are for commercial use and create a one-way communication channel between a business and its energy supplier.

For more information on the electricity supply service we provide, please contact us and we will be happy to go over any queries you may have.

We have had our electricity contracts with Ringlink for many years. I find the supply prices very reasonable. The staff are very informative and look after our sites respectively and answer any questions I have swiftly when asked. I would not hesitate to recommend them.

Ringlink has already assisted over

41%

of our members to review their electricity contracts

83%

of those members are now using AMR metering and avoiding estimated billing.

Peter Robertson, Ednie Farms

Did you know: By the end of last September, 30.3million smart and advanced meters were in homes and small businesses across Great Britain – 54% of all meters are now smart or advanced, with 26.5million acting in smart mode.

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WATER Ringlink continues to supply water contracts through Castle Water, offering significant savings, easy management and local point of contact. To discuss your water contract, contact your local Ringlink office.

Ringlink has been looking after our water contracts – of which we have several - for the last few months.

The move to Ringlink was relatively smooth and has certainly freed up admin time at our end as we now just get the one invoice from Ringlink every month rather than the several we received from our previous supplier. We still have one supply left with our old supplier and as soon as this is out of contract, we plan to move this also to Ringlink.

Clova Farms, Carnoustie

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LAND WANTED For growing carrots, potatoes & other root crops Must be suitable for stone separation Must have convenient water source for irrigation purposes

Top prices paid for all land rental arranged Contact your local office for further details

STRAW BOUGHT & SOLD THROUGHOUT THE UK

MALTING BARLEY CONTRACTS AVAILABLE

ABOUT RINGLINK

06

Ringlink Scotland is the UK’s largest business ring with a membership of more than 3,200.

As a co-operative, the business is owned by its members, and therefore, revolves around the supply and demand of goods and services between its members.

Established in 1988, the company has seen significant growth progressing from entirely focusing on agriculture into a diverse range of business sectors including haulage, construction and

forestry along with a variety of other business activities.

It’s not just a case of “what we can do for you”, it’s “what can we do for each other”.

Find out a bit more about Ringlink and the people behind it.

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06 ABOUT RINGLINK

METHOD OF OPERATION 2.4 The Ring will charge a levy to both the Demander and the Supplier on the price of goods supplied or contracted work carried out by members for members. Levy charges vary on goods supplied or contracted work carried out; all levy charges are detailed in the annual handbook and are decided annually by the Board of Directors.

1. MEMBERSHIP 1.1 Each individual, farming partnership or company which is a member of Ringlink (Scotland) Limited (“the Ring”) shall pay an annual subscription to the Ring which shall be decided annually by the board of directors of the Society (“the Board of Directors”).

1.2 Each member must give at least three (3) months advance notice, in writing, of their intention to retire from the Ring.

3. INDEMNITY The Ring participates as an Originator in the Direct Debiting Scheme operated by certain members of the Association for Payment Clearing Services and the Northern Ireland Bankers Association. The Chairman and Secretary of the Ring are authorised to execute a Form of Indemnity worded in the standard form as required by those members.

2. FINANCIAL 2.1 In order that information is made available to members quickly and clearly, a list of goods and services and including standard guide costs for equipment, plant and machinery will be circulated annually or more often if the need arises.

4. SUPPLY OF GOODS, SERVICES OR THE USE OF EQUIPMENT, PLANT AND MACHINERY

2.2 Members obtaining the use of any equipment, plant or machinery through the Ring shall, subject to the terms of paragraph 4.2 hereof, pay such standard costs, as specified in the price list, for the contracted work as shall be decided annually by the Board of Directors.

4.1 When a member wishes to purchase goods or contracted work (a “Demander”) they should contact a representative of the Ring (a “Representative”) as soon as possible.

Once the Representative has received a request from a Demander, it is the responsibility of the Representative to match up a member (“a Supplier”) to the requirements of the Demander and to notify the Supplier of his commitment. No member shall have any right or remedy against the Ring or the Ring Representative in the event that the Representative is unable to match a Supplier to supply the goods or contracted work requested by the Demander.

2.3 A price for the supply of goods will be provided to members on application. A Demander will be notified by the Ring of the current price for the requested goods, subject to the terms of paragraph 4.2.

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4.2 Any communications between a Ring Representative and the Supplier or a Ring Representative and the Demander shall under no circumstances be deemed to constitute advice from the Ring or the Representative.

For the avoidance of doubt the Demander shall have sole responsibility to determine and satisfy itself as to the appropriateness of any equipment to be supplied and to determine if the equipment and/or goods and/or services suggested is what the Supplier requires under the specific circumstances.

4.3 The Ring is acting as agent for the Supplier and Demander only and under no circumstances shall the Ring or the Representative be deemed to be the principal in any arrangements with the Supplier or the Demander.

4.4 Contracted work is undertaken at the standard rates detailed in the price list in force at the time. Alterations in price due to availability, operating conditions, quantity of contracted work or any other circumstances may be negotiated between the Demander and the Supplier in which case such alterations in price should be agreed with a Ring Representative before the agreed work is started or the goods are supplied.

4.5 The supply of goods is undertaken at the rates detailed to the Demander on application to the Ring and such prices may vary accordingly and in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed between Supplier and Demander.

4.6 The Ring is acting in the capacity as agents for Supplier and Demander. As such, neither the Ring nor the Board of Directors shall be liable for any delay in performance, or failure of performance, including failure by the Demander to pay, with respect to any of the obligations of Supplier or Demander contemplated by this document.

4.7 The Ring is acting in the capacity as agents for Supplier and Demander only. As such, the Ring shall not, under any circumstances, be liable for the goods supplied or contracted works provided not being of satisfactory quality, not being performed with reasonable skill and care, not conforming to any agreed specification, not being fit for purpose or not being free from material defects in design, material or workmanship. For the avoidance of doubt, any and all obligations and liabilities relating to the quality of the goods and/or services provided shall be the obligations and liabilities of the Supplier.

4.8 The Board of Directors may, at their discretion, restrict the type of the goods supplied through the Ring.

06 ABOUT RINGLINK

METHOD OF OPERATION-CONTINUED 5. INSURANCE AND RISK

6. PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT BY SUPPLIER

5.1 All Suppliers shall at all times whilst carrying on any contracted work maintain in force the following insurance policies with reputable insurance companies:

6.1 It is the responsibility of the Supplier to ensure that any equipment used by the Supplier in performing the contracted work for the Demander is mechanically sound and fit for its purpose and that it is fully compliant with all Health and Safety legislation, rules or regulations in force at that time.

Public liability insurance for not less than FIVE MILLION POUNDS (£5,000,000) per claim;

6.2 For the purposes of contracted work, a Ring Representative must be notified immediately of any breakdown of equipment, plant or machinery belonging to the Supplier on the Demander’s premises. The Supplier will be given a reasonable length of time (seven hours) to have a machine operational again.

If for any reason the repair is going to take longer, then the Ring may appoint another member to complete the contracted work.

Each Supplier will be paid by the Demander for that part of the contracted work which that Supplier completed according to clause 8 below.

5.2 Suppliers shall notify their insurers they are performing contract work for third parties for reward by third parties.

5.3 The Demander must have full Public and Employers’ Liability insurance with a reputable insurance company for not less than FIVE MILLION POUNDS (£5,000,000) when the contracted work is being performed on the Demander’s behalf by the Supplier and the Demander shall notify their insurer accordingly.

5.4 As agents for Supplier and Demander, the Ring is at no time in possession of the goods or any Supplier’s equipment, plant or machinery.

The Ring will bear no risk for neither any damage or destruction suffered by any goods to be supplied nor destruction or damage to any equipment, plant or machinery with respect to any obligations between Supplier and Demander contemplated by this document.

6.3 The Demander will be responsible for any damage to the Supplier’s machinery if such damage is caused by the neglect of the Demander or its employees or agents.

In no circumstances shall the Ring be deemed liable for any damage contemplated by this clause.

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06

8.2 When a job is completed to the satisfaction of the Demander, a schedule of the work undertaken will be prepared and signed by the Demander and the Supplier. The Supplier returns the schedule to the Ring office.

7. COMPLAINTS 7.1 Complaints by members regarding the provision of services or the use of equipment, plant or machinery, may be made to the Managing Director for mediation. If no satisfactory settlement can be arranged it is the member’s right to present, in writing, his complaint at the next meeting of the Board of Directors, whose decision will be final.

8.3 Members must have a current account at a bank together with authorisation for the Ring to use this account as regards payment for contracted work done or goods supplied among the members, by variable Direct Debit and Credit. Any Direct Debit returned unpaid to the Ring will incur a £25.00 charge to cover administration and Bank Charges. Interest at eight percent (8%) or four percent (4%) above Clydesdale Bank PLC base rate, whichever is the greater, will be charged on all overdue accounts.

7.2 All members’ complaints as to the general management of the Ring business can be raised with either the Chairman or Vice Chairman. If no verbal settlement is adequate, a written statement is to be sent to the Chairman with all the relevant information for discussion at the next Board Meeting. The decision of the Board of Directors will be final.

8.4 Provided the Demander’s bank pays the sum to the Ring in terms of the Direct Debit being presented, the Supplier will be paid twenty-eight (28) days from the tax point date of the invoice.

8. SELF BILL INVOICING AND PAYMENT 8.1 Under no circumstances shall the Ring have any responsibility or liability in regards to the creditworthiness of the Demander and the matching of a Supplier and Demander shall under no circumstances imply any term as to the creditworthiness of a Demander.

The Supplier shall have sole responsibility in determining the creditworthiness of the Demander and the Ring shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever if the Demander fails to adhere to any agreed payment terms.

8.5 All contracted work between members, whether arranged through the Ring or not will be billed and paid for through the Ring.

8.6 In accordance with clause 8.5 above, any invoice raised and issued by the Supplier shall be in the name of the Ring. Notwithstanding that the Ring accepts receipt of such invoice from the Supplier in the name of the Ring, the Ring is acting in its capacity as agent of the Demander only and accepts receipt of any invoice in the name of the Ring as a matter of administrative convenience for both the Demander and the Supplier. Any liability to pay an invoice issued by a Supplier shall remain exclusively with the Demander and under no circumstances (subject to clause 8.8 below) shall the Ring be liable (in full or in part) for any invoice raised in the name of the Ring.

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06 ABOUT RINGLINK

METHOD OF OPERATION-CONTINUED Under our Self-Billing agreement with H M CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, Ringlink must maintain an up-to-date list showing the names, addresses and VAT registration numbers for all supplies covered by the self-billing system.

Suppliers must notify Ringlink immediately if their VAT registration number is cancelled, or if they are issued with a new VAT number.

8.7 The Ring shall at its discretion, pay a Supplier on behalf of a Demander. In that event, the status of the Ring as agent shall not be affected and the Ring shall be entitled to recover that debt from the Demander.

8.8 The Ring, in its capacity as agent for the Demander, may issue invoices on behalf of the Demander under self-billing arrangements between the Supplier and Demander for VAT invoicing. Any invoice issued by the Ring on behalf of the Demander pursuant to the aforementioned self-billing arrangements shall be done by the Ring in its capacity as agent for the Demander only. Under no circumstances shall the Ring be deemed to be the principal under any arrangements between the Demander and the Supplier and under no circumstances shall the Ring assume or be deemed to have assumed any liability under the arrangement between the Supplier and the Demander.

9. SPARE CAPACITY 9.1 Members are obliged to offer their spare machine capacity to the Ring in the first instance where the Ring is offering a commercially competitive rate and to cover their own additional demand for machines from the Ring where such demand can be satisfied by the Ring at a commercially competitive rate.

9.2 If an arrangement through the Ring is not possible at a commercially competitive rate the member is free to offer and seek machine capacities outwith the Ring, after first informing the Manager.

8.9 Where a member is both a Demander and a Supplier (as the case may be) and the Ring is acting in its capacity as agent for the member in both circumstances, the member agrees that any monies the Ring receives, pursuant to an invoice raised and issued by the Ring in its capacity as agent for the member, may be offset, at the absolute discretion of the Ring, against any other debt due and payable by the member, whether to the Ring or another member of the Ring.

10. SUBCONTRACTING 10.1 Members can use the Ring as a source of sub-contracting for work outside Ring customers. The Demander will collect their bill through their normal invoicing routine. The Supplier will be paid through the Ring system.

10.2 All transactions and negotiations in connection with the Ring must be made through a Ring Representative or the Managing Director who is solely responsibleto the Board of Directors. Any failure to comply with the clauses of this Method of Operation document may result in your membership being reviewed.

8.9.5 Remaining a member of the Ring constitutes agreement that members agree to Self-Billing arrangements continuing on an ongoing basis.

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Case IH Rebate Scheme

CLAIM YOUR REBATE NOW Case IH UK has agreed to continue the largely successful Rebate scheme on offer to Scottish Machinery Ring members.

As a Ringlink member, you would be entitled to a financial rebate on your CASE IH purchase from any of the models as detailed in the list shown below. In addition, you will also be entitled to a share of the competitive trade-in bonus. Reduced rebates for any ex-demonstrators or hires apply.

The process is simple, visit your local CASE IH dealer to select your new CASE IH tractor, baler or combine, tell them that you are a member of Ringlink, provide us with a copy of your invoice and we will take care of the rest.

Ringlink are completely committed to providing services and solutions to its members, for the benefit of its members. So as part of SMRA, we are able to offer this Rebate Scheme as another benefit of your membership. Contact your local Ringlink office to find out more.

COUPAR ANGUS 01828 640456 CUPAR 01334 809999 ELGIN 01343 550123 LAURENCEKIRK 01561 377790 OLDMELDRUM 01651 873602

Quantum Farmell A&C Luxxum Vestrum Maxxum/Maxxum cvx Farmlift (Telehandler) Puma/Puma cvx up to inc175 Puma/Puma cvx 185 + Optum Magnum Magnum RowTrac STX R Baler B Baler Combine

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RINGLINK

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06 ABOUT RINGLINK - MEET THE BOARD JAMES PORTER CHAIRMAN

James Porter farms East and West Scryne at Carnoustie with his father, where they keep cattle and grow potatoes, barley, wheat, beans and soft fruit. James and his family are no strangers to the lifestyle; they have been farming for at least five generations and growing strawberries since the 1960s.

James is a grower member of Angus Soft Fruits and Angus Growers. He is an ambassador of the Royal Highland Education Trust and has recently stepped down as Chairman of the NFUS Horticulture Committee. James has been a Director of Ringlink since 2008 and was appointed Chairman of the board in 2019.

GRAHAM BRUCE

PETER CHAPMAN

MANAGING DIRECTOR

VICE CHAIRMAN

Peter farms 420 hectares at South Redbog,Strichen with his wife Grace and three daughters Trudy, Louise and Katie.

Arable production forms the main part of the business with 340 hectares managed on a winter barley, WOSR, winter wheat and spring barley rotation. He also has 50 suckler cows with all progeny finished on farm. Peter and his family own and operate 4800kW wind turbines with all generation exported to the grid. Peter currently sits on the board of Scottish Agronomy and represents Ringlink on the SAOS council. Peter has been a Director of Ringlink since 2012 and was appointed Vice Chairman in 2019.

Graham started his career on a 700 acre mixed arable farm at Arbroath and in 1979 took up the position of working farm manager with a progressive farming enterprise in South Angus, a position held for nine years before being appointed manager of Mearns & Angus Machinery Ring Ltd in 1988, becoming Managing Director in 1995.

Graham was a Council member of SAOS for 6 years and continues to represent SAOS on the NFUS Legal & Technical committee engaging in a wide range of industry related issues.

This led to a further appointment representing NFUS on the board of the Gangmaster Licensing Authority, a position held for eight years until the reorganisation of the GLA Board in 2015. Graham sits on the SAWB as an employers representative as appointed by NFUS and recently awarded Associateship of the Royal Agricultural Societies (ARAgS).

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Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd 06 Ringlink Scotland is the United Kingdom’s largest business ring with a membership in

ABOUT RINGLINK - MEET THE BOARD

Ringlink has progressed from a company focusing entirely on agriculture into a diverse business which now includes haulage, construction, and forestry JANE CRAIGIE JAMES ORR together with a variety of other business activities.

DIRECTOR DIRECTOR As a co-operative the business is owned by its members, and therefore, revolves around the supply and demands of goods and services between its members. As a co-operative, it’s with not just case of “what we can for you”, it’s1500 “what can at weMilton do for Jane is a Chartered Marketer overa 25 James Orr do farms around acres each other”.

years’ experience in marketing within the of Blebo Farm near Cupar, Fife; growing agri-food sector. She is a member of the potatoes, carrots, parsnips, broccoli, and executive board of the International Federation cereals. With a team of four full-time staff, of Agricultural Journalists and the council Board of including a Modern Apprentice, he typically of Directors the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists. employs around 40 seasonal workers in the Jane sits on the board for Lantra and SRUC, is peak harvest months. James is also involved a co-founder of the Rural Youth Project, and is with farmers’ co-operative East of Scotland on OECD’s Expert Advisory Panel for Enhancing Growers which has a membership responsible Rural Innovation and has been a Director of for producing between 20 – 25% of the UK’s Ringlink since 2019. broccoli requirement. He is also involved in a potato packing business in North Lincolnshire Graham Bruce for retail, Andrew Moir David Pate James Porter John Farquharson packing foodservice and export.

Chairman

Vice Chairman

Managing Director

Director

Director

CLIVE PHILLIPS

ANDREW STIRLING DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR

Andrew Stirling is Managing Director of Martin Cessford Michael Macaulay Director DirectorLarder, Stirling Potatoes Ltd & Upper Dysart a family business which he runs with his wife Anita and four children. Located at Lunan Bay, Angus, they have a new innovative vending farm shop.

Clive is an accredited specialist agricultural Clive Phillips Peter Chapman Andrew Stirling Director Director Director lawyer and heads the Rural Business team

With over five decades of farming experience, this business has evolved to meet the demands of retailers & ready meal producers and now producing their own branded fresh, long life mash. As growers, processors and packers of potatoes & vegetables, on the 430 acre farm full-time employment for 60 people. Andrew has been a Director with Ringlink since 2011

at Brodies LLP. He also farms in his own right, having built up his farm business from grass lets as a youngster to approx 450 acres which he owns and runs with his wife Liz, and children Calum and Pippa. He is very much hands-on with his arable and sheep enterprises and runs 650 north-country Cheviot ewes supplying a Tesco COP contract through McIntosh Donald. He also represents the Scottish producers in that contract with Tesco and the processors.

Clive has been a Director with Ringlink since 2014 and also sits on various legal and technical committees for QMS, NSA, NFU and Scottish Land & Estates.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 129

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06 ABOUT RINGLINK

PICK-UPS FOR PEACE

JAMES PORTER, RINGLINK CHAIRMAN

February marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have verified a total of 7,155 civilian deaths and 11,662 injured at that date, including 438 children killed and 851 injured. Real numbers are likely to be much higher as it is impossible to verify casualties in Russian controlled areas of Ukraine where the fighting has been heaviest.

Military casualties on both sides are in the hundreds of thousands.

For those reasons, fellow Ringlink director Matthew Steel (pictured above) and I are supporting Pick-ups for Peace, an organisation set up to donate pick-ups and supplies to the Lviv Mechanised Brigade, and we will be taking our pick-ups across to Ukraine to hand over to them.

Millions of Ukrainian refugees, mainly women and children, have been scattered across Europe, including Olena and her two children Bohdan and Veronika, who are living in a cottage here at Scryne.

There has not been a more outrageous and unprovoked act of aggression in Europe since the Second World War.

We would like to fill them with essential supplies and would be most grateful for any donations you feel able to give. If you have an old but serviceable pick-up you would like to donate but are not keen on a long trip we can accommodate that also.

Many Ukrainian people have worked at Scryne picking berries over the years. When the war started, I contacted as many of them as I could to check how they were. Some of them are fighting in Ukraine right now, including Maksym, who worked on the farm in 2021.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” (Edmund Burke)

Like many in the farming community across the UK, we feel a strong connection with the people of Ukraine, having worked alongside them for many years, and fundamentally, Ukraine’s fight is also our one, because we have seen this behaviour before in Europe 75 years ago, and we know where it ends if you don’t stand up to it.

For further information or for donations please contact The Central Plains Group on: pickupsforpeace@memus.com or Mark Laird:07917 017818.

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06 ABOUT RINGLINK - MEET THE BOARD

INTRODUCING OUR THREE NEW DIRECTORS MATTHEW STEEL DIRECTOR Matthew Steel is a Director of the family farm at Craignathro, Forfar. Here the family grow potatoes, cereals and produce free range eggs. Alongside the traditional farming, there is an interest in renewable energy with a wind turbine, solar, biomass boiler and ground source heat pump. The farm is mixed with the potatoes and eggs taking up the bulk of the time. Four full time and two part time staff are employed on the farm who work alongside Matthew and his parents.

Out with the main farming commitments, Matthew also sits on the main board of NFUS in his capacity as the Next Gen Chair. he also holds representation on the Pigs and Poultry working groups at NFUS. Furthermore, he sits on the potato committee at SSCR based at the James Hutton Institute.

JOHN GRAY DIRECTOR John has had a very diverse career, growing up firstly on the family farm at Auchrennie in Angus, where he was heavily involved in soft fruit & brassicas, and managed the packhouse during the summer holidays.

After he graduated from Edinburgh in 1998 he moved to Poland and managed a large scale potato growing enterprise there for several years before moving back to the UK to work for Angus Soft Fruits, the largest soft fruit marketing group in Scotland, where he is now Managing Director.

John also grows strawberries in his own right in England, and is a member of Angus Growers.

JENNIFER MARSHALL DIRECTOR Jennifer works in partnership with her husband, Rowan, farming 1,200 acres in Perthshire. The farm produces potatoes, oats, wheat and barley as well as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, blackcurrants and redcurrants. They also run a small farm shop. Jennifer is a member of Angus Growers and typically employs around 150 fruit pickers between May and November.

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Ringlink (S

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06 ABOUT RINGLINK - MEET THE TEAM

Graham Bruce GrahamGraham Anderson Vicky Bruce Tom Easson Bruce Graham Anderson Vicky Bruce JenniferT Graham BruceBruce Graham Anderson Vicky Bruce Easson Jennifer Pearson Managing Director Labour Manager Electricity Regional Manager ElectriciR Managing Director Graham Graham Anderson Vicky Bruce TomTom Easson Jennifer Pearson Labour Manager Electricity Administrator Managing Director Electricity Contracts Labour Manager Regional Manager AdministratorCo-ordi Managing Director Electricity Contracts Labour ManagerElectricity Electricity Regional Manager Administrator Co-ordinator Administrator Co-ordinator Graham Bruce Graham Anderson Vicky Bruce Managing Director Labour Manager Electricity Administrator LL David Stewart Thow Stewart AndrewLouise Tindal Thow John Singer Louise David Animal Area Feed Manager Area Manager Manager Animal FeedRegional Area Manager & Straw O O Trader N N & Straw Trader

T TL A LA

Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd Admin Admin GRAHAM BRUCE MANAGING DIRECTOR

ANDREW TINDAL IT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

JOHN SINGER John Singer AREA MANAGER Area Manager

SCOTT Louise Thow DavidFRASER Stewart CONTRACTS Animal Feed Area Manager COORDINATOR & Straw Trader

Admin

A R

SCOTT WALKER UTILITIES

Bruce Ann Ann Bruce MANAGER

Admin Manager Secretary Secretary MANAGER Admin Manager

NATALIE SMART

UTILITIES Keira Coates Keira Coates SUPERVISOR

JENNIFER PEARSON EVELYN COATES Evelyn Coates AnnEvelyn Bruce Coates FINANCE & Alison Walker JillELECTRICITY Forbes Alison Walker Jill Forbes Admin Manager Secretary CONTRACTS COMPLIANCE Admin Manager

Accounts Assistant Admin Admin Assistant CO-ORDINATOR Accounts Assistant Assistant

Tom Easson Jennifer Pearson Regional Manager Electricity Contracts Co-ordinator

David Stewart Louise Thow Andrew Tindal PETER WOOD BRYCE ELGIN TRACEY WALKER Wood Area Manager Bryce ElginRegional Manager AnimalPeter Feed Tracey Walker TRAINING ASSISTANT TRAINING Wood Elgin Walker Training ManagerBryceAssistant Training Tracey Training &Peter Straw Trader MANAGER TRAINING CO-ORDINATOR Training Manager Assistant Training Training MANAGER Manager Co-ordinator Manager Co-ordinator

ADMIN Secretary SUPERISOR

JUDITH FERGUSON Keira Coates

GEMMA CUMMINGS Jill Forbes

ASSISTANT

ASSISTANT

ADMIN Accounts Assistant

AdminADMIN Assistant

Admin Manager

Jill Forbes Keira Coates

Admin Assistant Accounts Assi

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Ann Bruce Secretary

Accounts Assis

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HUGH THOMPSON Bryce DEBBIE HENDERSON Tracey CAROLINE PeterHugh Wood ElginWood Walker Thomson Peter Bryce Elgin Tracey Walker Thomson Debbie Henderson Caroline DonaldsonHugh TRAININGN O Hugh Thomson Training Training TManager CO-ORDINATOR LA Training Co-ordinator Co-ordinator

TRAINING DONALDSON Assistant Training Debbie Henderson Caroline Donaldson Training Manager Training Assistant Training Training Training Training Training CO-ORDINATOR HR & TRAINING Training Training Manager Co-ordinator Co-ordinator CO-ORDINATOR Manager Co-ordinator Co-ordinator Co-ordinator Co-ordinator Co-ordinator

Peter Wood

Admin

Ann JOAN BruceGOLDIE

Evelyn Coates

Mandy Lyon Accounts Assistant ASSISTANT Secretary Admin Assitant Admin Assitant

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Admin Assitant MANAGER Admin Assitant

KEIRA COATES KeiraAnn Coates Bruce ACCOUNTS Mandy Lyon

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GRAHAM ANDERSON LABOUR MANAGER

Laurencekirk

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MARK JONES SENIOR AREA MANAGER

A R

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John Singer Singer David David Stewart Louise Louise Thow Andrew Andrew Tindal John John Singer Stewart Thow Tindal Area Manager Manager Animal Animal Manager Regional Regional Manager Area Area Manager FeedFeed AreaArea Manager Manager & Straw Trader & Straw Trader

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ALISON WALKER Alison Walker AdminADMIN Assitant

Ringlink Services 130

ASSISTANT

DOREEN Lyon PATERSON Mandy ACCOUNTS Admin Assitant ASSISTANT

Bryce Elgin

Assistant Training Manager

Tracey Walker Training Co-ordinator

Unit 2, Colpy Way, Colpy Ind. Estate, Old Meldrum AB51 0BZ 01651 873602 nit 2, Colpy Way, Colpy Ind. Estate, Old Meldrum AB51 0BZ 01651 873602 COUPAR ANGUS OUPAR ANGUS Meadowside Park, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie PH13 9ER 01828 640456 eadowside Park, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie PH13 9ER 01828 640456

LDMELDRUM

06

Elgin

Elgin ABOUT RINGLINK - MEET THE TEAM

George Bruce George Bruce

Regional Manager

GEORGE BRUCE REGIONAL MANAGER

Regional Manager

Alick Anderson

Alick Anderson

John Milne

JOHN MILNE AREA MANAGER

Brian AREA Mutch MANAGER

Area Manager

BRIAN MUTCH

Old Meldrum

GREGG WATSON

OLA NOWAK

Ola Nowak AREA MANAGER Labour Assistant

James Rae

Neil Smith

Mike Scott Area Manager

Coupar Angus

Dave McLaggan Karrina Andrews Henry Taylor Ryan Dorsie Senior Area Manager Area Manager Area Manager Area Manager Dave McLaggan Karrina Andrews Henry Taylor Matt Thompson Ryan Dorsie DAVE MCLAGGAN RYAN DORSIE DAVID WELSH JACQUI RAMSAY DEANNA PAUN Senior Area Manager Area Manager Area Manager Area Manager Marketing Co-ordinator SENIOR AREA MANAGER

TOM EASSON SENIOR LABOUR MANAGER

AREA MANAGER

SARAH REID TRAINEE AREA MANAGER

Old Meldrum

Area Manager Area Manager MIKE SCOTT JAMESSenior RAE Area Manager NEIL SMITH MATHEW Ron Mutch James Neil Smith MikeMACDONALD Scott SENIOR AREARae MANAGER AREA MANAGER AREA MANAGER AREA MANAGER Senior Area Manager Area Manager Area Manager Area Manager

Coupar Angus

Area Manager

Area Manager

Gregg AREAWatson MANAGER Area Manager Area Manager Gregg Watson Ola Nowak Area Manager Labour Assistant

Ron Mutch

Gina Foreman

Gina Foreman

Senior Area Manager Area Manager

Brian Mutch

John Milne

Senior Area Manager Area Manager

AREA MANAGER

AREA MANAGER

PETE SMALL AREA MANAGER

131

AREA MANAGER

Matt Thompson Marketing Co-ordinator CAROLINE MULLER CONTRACTS COORDINATOR

LAW FERTILISERS LTD, METHIL

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CALL SALES OFFICE: 01592 808366

06 ABOUT RINGLINK

PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018.

Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd & Ringlink Services Ltd gather and process your information in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation. Information that we collect and hold may include the following: > Name and address (including site locations) > Telephone numbers > Email addresses > VAT number > Bank account details The information will be used to enable us to facilitate trading with you and your company, for invoicing purposes and general account administration and will be maintained and kept securely by authorised employees. We will only use your personal information when the law

> Self-employed tax reference > National Insurance number > Product & public liability insurance document

allows us to.

You have the right to request information on the data held by Ringlink (Scotland) Ltd & Ringlink Services Ltd about you or your business by contacting us at: laurencekirk@ringlinkscotland.co.uk Our privacy notice is available to read in full at: www.ringlinkscotland.co.uk or www.ringlinkservices.co.uk

133

PETER SMART CONTRACTING

Tel 07917 778445 or 07977 577602 or 07793 373030 Email Petesmart@live.co.uk For all your agricultural needs 15

06 ABOUT RINGLINK

CONVERSION CHART TO CONVERT TO METRIC, MULTIPLY

BY THE FACTOR SHOWN.

LENGTH 10 millimetres 10 centimetres 10 decimetres 10 metres 10 decametres 10 hectometres 1000 metres

1 centimetre 1 decimetre 1 metre 1 decametre 1 hectometre 1 kilometre 1 kilometre

TO CONVERT FROM METRIC, DIVIDE BY THE FACTOR. DISTANCE Inches to centimetres Feet to metres Yards to metres Statute miles to kilometres

VOLUME 1000 cu. mm 1000 cu. cm 1000 cu. dm 1 million cu. cm

1 cu. cm 1 cu. decimetre 1 cu. metre 1 cu. metre

AREA Square feet to square metres Square yards to square metres Acres to hectares

MASS 1000 grams 1000 kilograms

1 kilogram 1 tonne

UK fluid ounces to litres UK pints to litres UK gallons to litres

1 centilitre 1 decilitre 1 litre 1 cu. metre

AREA 100 sq. mm 10 000 sq. cm 100 sq. metres 100 ares 10 000 sq. metres 100 hectares 1 000 000 sq. metres

0.0929 0.8361 0.4047

CAPACITY

CAPACITY 10 millilitres 10 centilitres 10 decilitres 1000 litres

2.54 0.3048 0.9144 1.6093

1 sq. cm 1 sq. metre 1 are 1 hectare 1 hectare 1 sq. kilometre 1 sq. kilometre

135

0.0284 0.5683 4.546

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30 31

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27 28 29 30 31

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

1 2 3 4

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26 27 28 29 30

September

November 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

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June

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

August 31

October Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

March

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

May

July Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

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December 27 28 29 30

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3

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18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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25 26 27 28 29 30 31

2024 January Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

February 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

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5 6 7 8 9 10 11

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12 13 14 15 16 17 18

March 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

06 ABOUT RINGLINK

Thank You

We’d like to thank all our members and partners for their continued support during this past year.

As a co-operative, it really is your Ringlink. It’s not just a case of “what we can do for you”, it’s “what can we do for each other”.

We’d also like to thank all our advertisers in this year’s handbook.

Rely on Ringlink

for services, support & solutions

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ELGIN Moycroft Ind Est, Elgin IV30 1XZ T: 01343 550123 OLDMELDRUM Unit 2 Colpy Way, Colpy Road Industrial Estate, Oldmeldrum AB51 0BZ T: 01651 873602 LAURENCEKIRK Cargill Centre, Aberdeen Road Laurencekirk AB30 1EY T: 01561 377790 COUPAR ANGUS Meadowside Park, Coupar Angus Blairgowrie PH13 9ER T: 01828 640456 CUPAR Unit 2, West Rigg, West Port, Cupar KY15 4AW T: 01334 809999

www.ringlinkservices.co.uk www.ringlinkscotland.co.uk

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