Investment in staff will leave Union better placed to face Brexit challenges

Publication of its annual accounts for 2017 shows a small fall in operating profit, down from £37,335 in 2016 to £32,131 in 2017.  Turnover is up from £2.72 million to £2.85 million - a rise of 4.8 per cent while expenditure, largely driven by the Union’s positive engagement with its membership and stakeholders on the challenge of Brexit, is up from £2.70 million to £2.84 million or 5.0 per cent.

Compliance with accounting standard means that theoretical gains on investment and property must now be accounted for and this has resulted in unrealised gains of £178,089 being included in the accounts which has resulted in a profit before tax of £288,357 compared to £289,265 in 2016.

With membership rising in many sections – including crofting and professional membership - subscriptions were up from £2.07 million to £2.12 million, an increase of 2.3 per cent.  The widening range of affinity deals and benefits available exclusively to NFU Scotland members has seen other income jump up from £31,975 to £106,974 in a year.

The robust set of accounts has allowed the Union the opportunity to bolster its staff body.  It is currently recruiting for both an economist and a policy manager to specialise in CAP and post-Brexit support schemes.

NFU Scotland Chief Executive Scott Walker said: “The team who work for NFU Scotland are passionate about what they do.  All appreciate and understand the difficulties many of our members have faced over the last year, as well as the uncertainty ahead.  

“We are 100 per cent focused on delivering for all farmers and crofters in Scotland through our ‘big picture’ work on Brexit as well as the ‘bread and butter’ work of assisting individual members with problems they encounter on a day-to-day basis.

“Since the referendum on EU membership in June 2016, the Union has built a positive case for Scotland’s farmers and crofters to be supported outside of the EU – via continued free trade with the EU; new, ambitious international trade deals; access to a non-UK labour pool and a well-funded, refreshed agricultural policy that fits the needs of Scotland’s unique landscape and farming practices.

“Striking the right Brexit deal for Scotland’s farmers and crofters is critical.  Our strength will mean that as Governments decide on the key issues that will affect us, Scottish agriculture will not be forgotten.

“Our activities cover a lot more than just Brexit.  From fly tipping, to the detailed implementation of agricultural holdings legislation, species management, to fighting for re-authorisation of glyphosate, introduction of EID, parachute payments for LFASS, better returns for farmers through the supply chain; there is no shortage of work to be done.

“Our strategy to grow our affinity partners to put money back in the pockets of our members while at the same time developing a new income source for the Union is paying off.  

“With this money, I plan to increase the size of our policy team which will ensure that we continue to represent farmers and crofters on the big issues as well as delivering assistance to members in their time of need.”  

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006