Scotland’s experts on farmer co-ops and food industry collaboration, we work with food and farming businesses to make them more profitable, competitive, and sustainable - #workingtogether to shape the future, today.
All our work helps facilitate farmers and food and drink businesses to work together effectively. Over the years we've expanded and developed subsidiary businesses - getting the right people together and making innovative advancements - to help benefit food, farming and rural Scotland.
Developing staff capability is one of the most effective ways to improve a co-op’s performance. Check out our events and training programme - most of which are open to non co-op members too.
As a development organisation, owned by our members, we provide a range of specialist services not available elsewhere, to assist them in developing their people and their businesses. Get in touch to find out how we can help you.
See below for all the latest news, views and updates from us here at SAOS. Find all our latest videos on YouTube at: SAOS - working together in food and farming
From comprehensive organisational reviews, to light-touch Board health checks,
our Governance Services provide the essential support every organisation needs to optimise the way they work and what they deliver.
Governance shouldn’t be dry, formulaic or dull. We can bring the subject alive, making it a key part of organisational culture. In short, governance is about the heartbeat of the organisation, ensuring clear leadership, transparency and communications, which maximise how boards and staff perform and the quality of what is delivered.
Reviewing governance should be part of the regular organisational rhythm and as integral as budgeting. Too often though, governance reviews or stocktakes happen after something has gone wrong. Our team can help after such an event, but regular health checks are 'preventative medicine' and a brilliant tool to maximise Board and staff performance.
Our work covers everything from Board and organisational overviews, to targeted pieces of work to develop Directors or develop Board strategy.
Get in touch with the team to chat about what might work best for you.
Free to SAOS members, we'll survey your Board, assess current levels against governance best practice and provide a report with areas for action.
We’ll survey your Board, senior team and membership, and review existing governance documents. Our report and findings will identify areas for action and help produce an implementation plan.
This is a comprehensive evaluation of the organisation’s governance and performance - we’ll work with your Board, staff and members, as well as important external customers, funders or stakeholders. The outputs will include a detailed report, action plan, review of structure and toolkit of revised governance documents.
We can review your existing risk register or build a new one from scratch, ensuring you minimise the impact of events and keep the business on track.
Establishing a future vision with clear objectives is essential for every business. We’ll work with your Board to develop a three, or five, year Strategic Plan to drive success.
Working with Board directors, using self-assessment tool and/or one-to-one interviews, we’ll assess the performance of your board directors, providing insights and recommendations to enhance strategic contributions and delivery.
Our Governance Specialist team (which also includes James Withers of JR Withers Advisory) has decades of experience working with businesses across multiple sectors, gaining the tools and experience to make organisations stronger.
Head of Co-op Development
07502 339613 | robert.logan@saos.coop
Co-op Development Director
07738 387306 | jim.booth@saos.coop
Chief executive
07384 545281 | tim.bailey@saos.coop