NFU Scotland has strengthened its policy team with two new appointments.

Starting work at NFUS today (Monday 10 January) are Nicola Clayton and Andrew Bauer.   Nicola's previous work has included three years with the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry where she held responsibilities within the International Policy Group.   Andrew's previous work has included being a community land adviser with Highland and Islands Enterprise and development officer with Lomond and Rural Stirling Leader.  

Nicola and Andrew are to join a new cross-commodity group within the policy team to be headed up by NFU Scotland’s Head of Rural Policy, Jonnie Hall.   This group will deal with anything that impacts on a farm business.   This could include fiscal issues to renewables, employment matters to the Union’s work with bodies such as Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

NFU Scotland’s Policy Director Scott Walker said:

“While continuing to represent our members’ interests in all the important commodity areas, the volume of workload related to cross-commodity issues such as land use, the environment, legal issues and so on continues to grow each year. 

“Nicola and Andrew come with a range of skills and experience that will help us improve the service we provide to members and our ability as a Union to influence the business environment within which our members work.

“I am sure that the new additions to staff and the internal structural changes will allow us to continue to provide the excellent service that we do and allow us to develop this further in order to meet the many new challenges that lie ahead for Scottish farmers and crofters.”

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006