Ringlink Group Newsletter summer 2024

Summer 2024 Dear Member, At the time of writing, the country is experiencing a reasonably dry spell of weather and winter barley is all but finished and some early OSR already combined. The recent dry spell is bringing on wheat crops and will see a repeat of last year in that some wheat crops will be cut before spring barley. Reports on grain yields have been mixed from fair to good and straw bouts behind the combine are reasonable considering the wet backend and start to the year.

As harvest progresses and workloads increase, the demand on our labour workforce is ever increasing and we would ask members if you have any spare labour available during the harvest period even for a couple of days, then please let us know. Please note that the 8-hour minimum charge for any labour requests will be enforced as will cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice.

Further into the harvest the demand for Tractor and Trailers for the potato harvest will be high, again if you have any availability do let your local office know.

Electricity contracts due for renewal in October are being finalised and will be sent out very shortly. Like last year our main offer will be based on a 1-year contract which I am pleased to report is around 20% down on last year, two-year deals are available but are working out 3% higher than a one year offer. However, if a member does request a 2-year deal, the electricity team will source a second-year quotation out with the main contract Here’s hoping for a good harvest and a straight forward autumn sowing period. It goes without saying that when workloads increase, so does the chance of accidents happening. Please do take time to consider the risks for yourself and your workers, make it a safe harvest, not a fatal one.

Graham Bruce

Rural affairs secretary talks skills during Ringlink Visit The future of the farming workforce was on the agenda in July as rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon visited our training centre at Laurencekirk.

Scotland’s cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands came along to receive an update on the Land-based Preapprenticeship programme which is in its twelfth year and is coming to the end of its current funding period.

First-hand experience Three people with first-hand experience were invited along to meet Ms Gougeon, they were current pre-apprentice Danielle Wrigley as well as graduates Logan Smith and Maddie Cairnie from the 2019 and 2020 programmes respectively. Each shared their experience of coming from a non-agricultural background and how the pre-apprenticeship gave them that important first step into the industry.

“Supporting new entrants, particularly young people, into agriculture is absolutely vital to protect the future of the sector,” said Ms Gougeon.

“It was great to meet the pre-apprentices and hear how the programme has helped build their confidence and develop their skills. “There are so many exciting opportunities available right across the agricultural sector and that was really emphasised by the young people I spoke to who had been through the scheme.”

Logan Smith completed his pre-apprenticeship and Modern Apprenticeship in Perthshire but has since travelled to cover harvests in Australia and Tasmania and now works on a mixed farm in a career he said “seemed improbable as a school leaver.”

Maddie Cairnie has just set up her own business with her flock of native Shetland sheep, having gained experience on a soft fruit farm before moving to a mixed farm where she completed a Modern Apprenticeship. After that, she moved to Lunan Bay Farm where she was looking after more than 300 goats as stocksperson.

Rural affairs secretary talks skills during Ringlink Visit Danielle Wrigley – who as a 2024 pre-apprentice only started her farm placement a couple of weeks ago – told Ms Gougeon how she had left a job in social care after hearing about the preapprenticeship from school friends who’d already been through it and she was now thoroughly enjoying it.

Sufficient demand Ringlink managing director Graham Bruce said: “We want to thank Mairi for her support in coming to see us to get an update on the programme. We felt it was really important she heard from the very people who are benefitting from the pre-apprenticeship.

“We’ve proved there is sufficient demand for this pathway into the rural sector and we’ve applied to the Scottish Government to continue the funding for this vital initiative that really does make a difference.

“Working together across Scotland, the machinery rings hope to have 85 young people complete the pre-apprenticeship this year, with 45 through Ringlink alone.

“Continued funding would let us prepare more young people for the world of work in the landbased sector, as well as go into schools and promote the industry and the amazing opportunities it offers.”

Ms Gougeon – SNP MSP for Angus North and Mearns – toured Ringlink’s new training facility with Mr Bruce and group operations manager Gail Robertson.

As the visit coincided with Farm Safety Week, the tour highlighted the part training plays in making farms and outdoors workplaces a safer place to work.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM Lisa Alexander, Administration Supervisor—joins us from a local sawmill and pallet manufacturer and has been getting to grips with her new role as Administration Supervisor at the Laurencekirk Office. In her free time, she enjoys caring for her horse and spending quality time with friends and family.

Janice Davie, Administration Assistant — previously worked as an administrator and team leader at the local co-op, now takes on the role of Administration Assistant at Ringlink. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé, two children, and their two Springer Spaniels.

Michelle Gibbon, Skills Co-ordinator— comes to us from Wales having previously worked with apprentices at Cardiff & Vale college. Michelle loves to travel and is learning to embrace Scottish culture, often enjoying conversations over a few beverages!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Name: Paul Wynne Position: Training Manager Paul is originally from Sunderland and joined the team 6 months ago. We caught up with him to learn a little more.

Career history: Gained an extensive knowledge of training, competence, and compliance from my various roles working in the public and private sectors, as well as the Royal Navy.

Hobbies and interests: Watching the English cricket, rugby, and supporting various football teams.

Land-based Pre-apprenticeship gets underway

The 2024 Land-based Pre-apprenticeship got underway in June with 28 young trainees (as pictured above) completing a four-day block induction at the Scottish Rural College (SRUC) Aberdeen.

The majority of pre-apprentices are now on their six-month employment placements with mentor businesses, and are eager to learn and develop new skills for the future.

Forestry pre-apprenticeship With a vast area of Scottish forests to manage and monitor, there is an urgent need to grow the next generation of skilled foresters. Whether they’re future machine operators, site supervisors, planners or woodland officers, there are various career routes available for our forestry pre-apprentices to pursue.

The first cohort of forestry pre-apprentices successfully completed the programme last year and the five trainees have gone on to secure jobs within the sector.

And now the 2024 cohort of eight pre-apprentices recently completed their training with an induction week at SRUC Barony campus in Dumfries (as pictured with SRUC’s Fergal Downes).