Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders

A 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:

• Skills Development Scotland’s Investment Plan for the Food & Drink Sector (2023) highlights leadership and workforce planning as key to sustaining sector growth.
• Scotland Food & Drink’s Industry Strategy (2023-2028) places investment in people and skills at the heart of a competitive, sustainable industry.
• The Scottish Agritourism Growth Strategy (2022-2030) highlights leadership development as a key driver for strengthening rural organisations.

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.

Tim Bailey, Chief Executive of SAOS said:

"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 lead picture shows the participants and their managers at the recent celebrations in Perth. The list of graduates is:

• Adam Wardrop – Tarff Valley

• Bryce John Elgin – Ringlink Services Ltd

• Calum Barker – Highland Grain

• Carol McLaren – RSABI

• Dave Bell – JC Bell Ltd 

• Fiona Campbell Swanson – Scottish Association of Young Farmers

• Innes Neil Carruthers – Dumfries & Stewartry Agency, NFU Mutual

• Jennifer Lori-May Jones – Thrums Veterinary Group

• Jillian Mary Wilson – Aberdeen Grain Storage Ltd

• Lisa Hislop – NFU Scotland

• Lorna Paterson – National Farmers' Union Scotland (NFUS)

• Natalie Louise Smart – Ringlink Scotland Ltd

• Oliwia Anna Kaminska – NFU Mutual, Perth

• Sarah Cowie – NFU Scotland

• Sarah Law – NFU Mutual Aberdeen City & Shire

• Stephanie Pritchard – Scotland Food & Drink

An episode of the OnFARM podcast has been created about the programme, hearing from participants. Listen, for free, at Home | OnFarm Dedicated Rural Podcasts - Scotland