Recently, we unveiled proposals agreed by NFU Council to future-proof the organisation and improve our connection to members.
Work to implement these changes is happening on several fronts and we will be keeping you abreast of these developments online and in our member magazine British Farmer & Grower.
A key aspect of the changes is the move to deal more effectively with local issues. Restructuring our current regional structure from seven regions to four will provide additional resource and focus to help us tackle issues such as rural crime, infrastructure projects and extreme weather more effectively in order to support members.
The new cohort of regional directors who will oversee these new regions are now in place and they are working at pace to build their new teams.
Current North West Director David Hall is now in charge of the North; East Anglia Director Zoe Leach takes the helm in the East; Rob Newbery continues in his role as Director of the Midlands and South West Director Mel Squires will be heading up the South.
The structural changes allow us to retain our focus on the counties which will remain the democratic base of the NFU.
Elsewhere, there is work to make our member representation and policy making more effective with strengthened commodity boards and a series of communities and groups which will pick up issues such as environment, energy and net zero, uplands, animal health, supply chain, trade, organic and land tenure, planning and infrastructure.
We have agreed the timetable for the establishment of the new regional boards.
鈥淭he changes we are making will improve the organisation鈥檚 member representation and financial position. Just as members have to respond to increased volatility in agricultural markets and a changing policy landscape, we are ensuring that the NFU remains relevant in the future while being increasingly resilient to shocks.鈥�
NFU Director General Terry Jones
Transition Boards
On 1 May, we will establish four Transition Boards where the business of the new regions can begin to be conducted, co-chaired by the chairs of the existing regional boards.
On 1 November those existing seven boards will fall away and the four new regional boards will take effect.
The terms of reference for those new boards are currently being worked on and, after discussion with regional board chairs in May, they will be ratified by Governance Board in June.
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More on the NFU 2023 review
