About us

Scotland’s experts on farmer co-ops and food industry collaboration, we provide a range of specialist information and development services to help businesses work together more effectively. #workingtogether we grow

What we do

Now more than ever, it’s vital for farmers and food and drink businesses to work together more effectively - all of SAOS’s work centres on facilitating this.

Events & Training

Check out our Growing Tomorrow's Leaders programme

Membership

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.

What's New

Latest news, views and updates from us here at SAOS.

James Graham receives Ed Rainy Brown award for exceptional co-operation

13 December 2019

At the end of March last year, James stepped down after 33 years with SAOS, 21 of them as Chief Executive. Katy Rainy Brown presented James with the award at last night’s SAOS Annual Conference Dinner at Dunblane Hydro Hotel (Thursday 30 January).

James not only steered SAOS through the last few decades, but has also been hugely influential across the wider food and agri sectors. A passionate proponent for industry organisations working together more effectively, James was a founder member of Scotland Food & Drink’s Partnership Board, and Co-Chair of Scotland Food & Drink’s Supply Chain Board.

James’s drive and commitment and his vast knowledge of co-ops and co-operation is well-respected, not only in Scotland, but also in the rest of the UK and overseas. Passionate about SAOS’s work to improve and encourage farmer co-ops in Scotland, James was also key in the diversification of the organisation’s activities, and the team itself, broadening SAOS’s skills and expertise and building on the values of co-operation. There are very few people who have done as much for the Scottish supply chain, having had a lead role in some of the most important developments in the last 20 years including the development of Scotland’s livestock traceability system, ScotEID.

Gareth Baird, Director and former Chairman of SAOS, who announced James’s win, commented: ”For a long time I have felt that James has been the most indispensable man in Scottish agriculture. His intellect, drive, resilience and humility have been of colossal and probably irreplaceable value to Scotland`s rural industries. We have been extraordinarily fortunate to have a man of his calibre at the helm of an organisation which is now the ‘go to’ body in times of both strife and development need for Government and industry alike.”

NFU Scotland Chief Executive Scott Walker, who worked closely with James throughout his time at SAOS, said: “James is a person who many people in the farming and food industry will have turned to at some point in time and he can justifiably claim to have played a part in the growth and success of many co-operative businesses and the development of many people who work in the industry.

“A strong advocate for the co-operative sector and its benefits, he has championed collaborative working and innovative ways to solve problems and issues. That made him a worthy winner of the NFU Scotland Ambassador award in 2019 and this latest recognition is equally deserved.”

SAOS’s current Chairman, Mark Clark, added: “In a quiet and professional way, James has been a driving force right across Scottish agriculture and his influence and intellect have been key to many successful developments and partnerships.”

Many of the past winners of the ERB award were present at the dinner, but we were all saddened to hear of the recent passing of Brian Pack, who won the award in 2008.

Comments (0)


This thread has been closed from taking new comments.