Growing Tomorrow's Leaders programme celebrates success and looks to 2023

The inaugural SAOS Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders programme, supported by NFU Scotland and NFU Mutual and delivered by The Leadership Factory, wrapped up in Dundee last week with a day to celebrate the success of the first cohort and share learnings and feedback prior to the launch of the 2023/24 programme.

For decades, SAOS has supported farmers, co-op directors and staff, to develop their skills and knowledge through a varied programme of events and training. In a sector facing climate change, policy, supply chain and sustainability challenges, SAOS developed Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders with input from an industry steering group, to help meet the need for more training with a strategic focus and fast track potential farming and rural business leaders.

Growing Tomorrow's Leaders provides an invaluable set of tools for promising individuals with drive and ambition who are looking to expand their learning and personal development. The programme has been helping our industry leaders of tomorrow to grow into their potential – equipping them with new skills, a strong mutually-supportive network, a positive mindset, as well as new ways of thinking and doing, to become better leaders for tomorrow.

Participants in the first programme, which commenced in autumn 2022 and officially ended with the graduation event in Dundee, include those working in large organisations, SMEs and the self-employed, each with a desire to improve their leadership skills, enhance their networks and help to future proof their businesses.

Alison Stirling, who took part in the programme, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the course and have gained such benefit from it. Aside from the great cohort of people and the ways in which we have been able to share challenges and work together to find solutions, I feel that I’ve really grown in myself. We learned some really useful models and techniques for managing change, understanding people, developing innovation and delegation.

“I had previously had feedback from colleagues that I perhaps wasn’t consultative enough and I now know that my listening skills have improved, I’m able to lead with both consultation and intent and overall, I’m more confident in leading my team to success.”

Tim Bailey, SAOS Chief Executive, commented: “It’s great to celebrate the achievements of our first set of graduates, as well as the success of the Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders programme itself, which has clearly been very well received. We’ll now build on the learnings from this first year and look forward to equipping more of today’s best people for tomorrow’s challenges.”

Mark McBrearty, NFU Mutual’s Regional Manager for Scotland, added: “NFU Mutual has supported workplace training of all kinds for many years, and we see Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders as providing a valuable additional set of skills for personal development. We’re proud to be involved and are especially pleased to see our own people gain so much from the programme.”

Pictured are The 2022/23 Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders graduates and course leaders.

Left to right: Stephen Hibbard, course leader; Amanda Killen; Kate Hopper; Kate Blues; Scott Gallacher; John Taylor; Anna Davies; Ryan Dorsie; Alison Stirling; Abbie McGillivray; Diana McGowan; Fiona Marshall, course leader; and Jilly Duncan Grant. (Two of the graduates are absent from graduation photo; Jill Lowe and Colin McCluckie)

Those interested in applying for the autumn 2023 programme can visit the SAOS website to learn more and register their interest: SAOS | Events & Training