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
25 March 2025
Our recent ‘Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders’ graduation event highlighted the increasing number of professionals seeking structured leadership development. Scotland’s agri, food and drink, and land-based sectors face an evolving set of challenges - from workforce shortages to economic uncertainty - placing greater emphasis on the need for leadership, skills development, and workforce resilience.
Several recent industry reports reinforce the need for proactive leadership and long-term workforce planning:
As Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders (GTL) opens registration for its next intake, these reports underscore the increasing recognition that investing in leadership is critical to the long-term resilience of Scotland’s industries.
At grassroots level, SAOS has observed a surge in organisations and individuals proactively engaging in leadership development opportunities. As Tim Bailey, Chief Executive of SAOS, notes: "There’s a real shift happening in how organisations and individuals view leadership development. More people are recognising that investing in leadership is essential for building resilient organisations, future-proofing their workforce, and driving long-term success. While cost is often a concern, the appetite for learning and skills development is growing, and organisations are looking for solutions that make this accessible.
"That’s why we introduced Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders - to provide a leadership programme that is designed by and for the sector. At SAOS, we believe that collaboration is central to strengthening our industries and, through GTL, we bring together individuals who are ready to shape the future of Scotland’s rural, food, and land-based sectors."
NFU Scotland Chief Executive, John Davidson, adds: "We are starting to see more of our members recognising that leadership is fundamental to the resilience and growth of Scotland’s agri, food and drink, and land-based sectors.
“Organisations are looking beyond immediate operational pressures and proactively thinking about investing in skills that will equip their teams for the future. It’s not an immediate fix, but opportunities like Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders provide a valuable long-term pathway to support this development."
The programme’s success is made possible through collaborative efforts, with SAOS partnering with key industry figures, NFU Mutual, NFU Scotland, and expert delivery partners Tack TMI Leadership Factory. Together, they are committed to equipping today’s leaders for tomorrow’s challenges.
The programme is open to individuals looking to enhance their leadership skills, develop strategic thinking, and build resilience within their organisations and industries, SAOS is now inviting individuals to apply or nominate a participant for the 2025/26 programme.
For more information visit: https://saos.coop/events-and-training/growing-tomorrows-leaders/
The attached image shows the participants and their managers at the recent celebrations in Perth. The list of graduates is: