Morepeople 5 questions

Gordon Flint spent 19 years as MD and Exec Chairman at Winchester Growers, which happened to be MorePeople's first client when we began 24 years ago!Gordon then started New Horizon Flowers 9 year ago, which is now one of the largest peony growers in the country.Here are Gordon's answers to our 5 Questions!What's the single biggest challenge facing our industry today?Climate change and its impact on crop production. In my lifetime the climate has changed dramatically with the rate of change appearing to gather pace in recent years. Are the recent extreme weather events, such as the current mild and wet winter, the new normal? What do you think the next big product/piece of tech will be?Robotics in crop production and processing. Bearing in mind my first answer, any robot needs to be able to cope with extreme weather conditions. I also feel that the robotics people need to be working much closer with geneticists. I see a lot of robots that mimic human action. Why not change the plant to make it much easier to harvest? Developments in technology in precision farming in its greater sense are having a huge impact on the way that we grow and harvest our crops and we are only at the beginning of the technology journey. What do you like most about our industry?I like the close connection with nature for example seeing wildlife in the fields, experiencing the changing seasons and the constant challenge that nature poses be it pests, diseases or the weather. What was your first ever job in our industry?Trainee adviser with ADAS, working in research and development. I couldn’t have gone on and developed my career without those years in ADAS. I was fortunate that at the time funds were more easily available and my Directors gave me free rein (or really didn’t know what I was doing!) What piece of advice would you like to give to your 21-year-old self?I wouldn’t change much but I would say get work/ life balance more in balance! Fortunately, I had a supportive family but now with Grandchildren, I realise how little time I spent with my children when they were young. Furthermore, I would say set up your own business earlier in your life than I did.

​With a successful career within horticulture and agriculture starting as a strawberry picker, Stephen spent 7 years as CEO of BASIS, before becoming CEO of TIAH last June.Here’s his answers to our 5 Questions! What's the single biggest challenge facing our industry today?We talk a lot about attracting and retaining the next generation, but I actually think that it’s just as important that we all have the skills and ability to thrive in tomorrow’s world. Life and business is so dynamic that we all need to adopt a philosophy of lifelong learning with access to intuitive training and professional development tools that will become essential in keeping our knowledge and skills current. What do you think the next big product / piece of tech will be?I would like it to be a Transporter (think StarTrek), but until physicists have perfected teleportation, I think that it is most likely to be augmented reality. Many of us find it unthinkable to go anywhere without our smartphones, and augmented technologies will undoubtedly find their way into our everyday lives. Using augmented reality, farmers and growers will be able to monitor field conditions, quickly spot pest infestations or nutrient deficiencies, train their workers, and so much more! What do you like most about our industry?We are very much still working in an industry that is built on relationships. I value my friendships and associations enormously. At the end of the day, we’re all dedicated to growing, processing, transporting, or selling nutritious food that is produced economically, and to the highest environmental standards. I’m proud to be part of it. What was your first ever job in our industry?My very first proper job in our industry was as a Wheat Breeding Assistant for the Plant Breeding International, Cambridge (Unilever). However, my first paid employment was straight out of school as a strawberry picker. 5am starts accompanied by a soundtrack of Skylarks ascending! I saved up, bought a motorcycle, and my employment prospects grew enormously overnight. What piece of advice would you like to give to your 21-year-old self?Life is for living. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Because at the end of the day, what’s the worst that could happen?

​We’re delighted to announced that Simon Bell is now officially an associate of MorePeople!Simon has worked in the food industry for over 30 years, and now helps small food and drink businesses scale up fast – a virtual CEO on hand at short notice for as long or short time as needed. “My work with food businesses on growing revenue and streamlining business operations to grow profitability always focuses on people – how teams can work together effectively to deliver more.”Here are his answers to our 5 questions!What's the single biggest challenge facing our industry today?Finding the right people in all departments, and then developing and retaining them whilst adapting to an ever-changing workplace landscape. People make businesses and culture eats strategy for breakfast! What do you think the next big product/piece of tech will be?AI without a doubt in terms of tech. DNA-tailored diets in terms of NPD What do you like most about our industry?The sheer variety and the pace of change, plus the fact that it touches everyone, every day What was your first ever job in our industry?Field sales representative for United Biscuits; new car, free Jaffa Cakes - it took a long while to find a better role than that! What piece of advice would you like to give to your 21-year-old self?Always try to see the bigger picture and take time out to review your progress. Embrace change and keep learning and evolving. ​

​Jacqui was CEO at Berry Gardens, a UK cooperative of fruit growers until 2019. Before this she was General Manager of Wingland Foods (Bakkavor), prior to that Commercial Director at Capespan and in the early 2000’s General Manager of IPL, set-up by Asda to directly source their produce.In 2019 she founded Viridis Associates, with the overarching purpose of spending her time focusing on people, profit and the planet. She is passionate about personal development and, as well as her Consulting and Non-Executive Director roles, she works as a Mentor and is a qualified Transformational Coach. ​What's the single biggest challenge facing our industry today?People! In it’s broadest sense - young people coming in to farming and seeing it as a career and, of course, the skills around agronomy, manufacturing, agriculture, crop husbandry, irrigation, picking, packing, quality assurance. We need a joined up approach between all the Government departments and trade bodies to focus our attention on skills and affordability of / grants towards training. ​What do you think the next big product / piece of tech will be?I would hope it will be in the shape of accessible, meaningful climate-ag tech, ensuring that we are holding agriculture across the world to account for reducing the devastating impact we are having on our planet and leading the way for other industries to follow. Right now, this space feels a bit like the Wild West and needs clarity, regulation and investment. ​What do you like most about our industry?The constant pace of change. Being surrounded by the passion of entrepreneurial growers, the ambition of retailers and the drive for continuous improvement. I am heartened to see the industry taking more time to consider those who are less fortunate and with charities like City Harvest, true partnerships can ensure healthy nutritious food is accessible to those in food poverty. ​What was your first ever job in our industry?I was the junior Account Manager for Marks & Spencer and Sainsburys at AFI soft fruit.It was a baptism of fire and I loved every minute. ​What piece of advice would you like to give to your 21-year-old self?Enjoy your job but don’t let your job define you. Stay true to your values and, if you find yourself somewhere that does not fit comfortably with your moral code, make a move. There is somewhere or something out there for you where your skills AND values are equally desired. You might just have to turn over a few stones to find it. ​

Adam White is the Head of Agriculture for Barclays Business. Responsible for a team of dedicated Agriculture and Landed Estates managers across the UK, who support farming and land based businesses through a range of projects such as diversification, sustainability and growth. He studied at the University of Greenwich, followed by an MBA at the University of Lincoln and a qualification in Sustainable Finance at the University of Cambridge. Adam is also a Member and regular speaker at the Institute of Agricultural Management. He also serves as a trustee of the East Anglia Agricultural Society supporting with industry engagement and growing the next generation, alongside showcasing UK Agriculture and food systems across urban areas and within schools. What's the single biggest challenge facing our industry today?A nice easy question to start with! In my view, it is balancing the competing demands of different stakeholders across the food sector. Those demands are for food security and food quality at the same time as improving bio diversity and carbon capture, which is a difficult balance to strike for the food sector, so forward planning becomes even more important. Having a plan for the next year is important, but thinking ahead about food and food production 5-10 years into the future is vital. What do you think the next big product / piece of tech will be?I truly believe it will be as simple as supply chain reporting, I remember a shoe company telling me they could not call their leather sustainable as they had no traceability in their supply chain. The Irish system works very well in tracking produce from farm to fork and being able to evidence the sustainability of that product is fantastic for the whole supply chain. We are already starting to see this in dairy which has benefits for farmers, food producers and consumers and add value all the way along the supply chain. What do you like most about our industry?I love the innovation in every part of the supply chain. Food production has a perception of being quite boring and old fashioned, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Be it on farm technology and practice or food production technology and robotics, not to mention the whole science of carbon storage and nature restoration. What was your first ever job in our industry? My first role was as a commercial director for the Agriculture team, it was quite intimidating coming into a sector I didn’t know a lot about. On my first day a colleague told me, if you don’t know just ask, farmers are experts and will tell you everything openly, which is still true today. What piece of advice would you like to give to your 21-year-old self?Everyday is a school day. If you aren’t learning anything new you are standing still. Put yourself in positions where you learn and are exposed to new ideas. ​​

​David Pratt, sporting his MorePeople Umbrella at Glastonbury last month, is next in line for our MorePeople 5 Questions. David joined the industry straight from uni, starting at Geest Produce Marketing and was hooked from there! He now focuses his time on a NED role for Angus Soft Fruits and being Chairman for Growers Direct, as well as his current role as Director of Food Heroes.What's the single biggest challenge facing our industry today? Rewarding the growers and risk takers for their endeavor, not getting lost in the clamor for margins from the conglomerate members of the supply chain to the customer. What do you think the next big product / piece of tech will be?I think drones will be a significant change to how we farm, and I think the new soft fruit varieties will drive that section of the produce industry to greater heights. What do you like most about our industry? The people, and the global community. What was your first ever job in our industry?Account assistant for fruit looking after M&S for Geest Produce Marketing. I was on a 12-month placement from Liverpool Poly! I had no understanding of the industry on arrival, but loved the endeavour and I was hooked straight away. What piece of advice would you like to give to your 21-year-old self?Be humble and friendly ​