NFU Scotland staff hosted 10 open conversation events across Scotland.
Last week, the Union’s diversity and inclusion team visited NFU Scotland’s nine regions for research gathering discussion events. Led by Caroline Millar, former board member, and assisted by Lucy McGillivray, NFU Scotland Horticulture and Next Generation Policy Advisor, the pair made their way from Kinross on Monday to Kirkwall, Orkney, on Friday (12 July).
With a consistent public turnout to each session, Caroline and Lucy were pleased with how the roadshow performed. Each discussion was open to anyone, regardless of previous membership or affiliation to NFU Scotland, as an opportunity to share accessibility recommendations to Union staff.
Caroline thoroughly enjoyed touring Scotland and was delighted with the insight gathered. She said: “We’ve had a fantastic week of really engaging diversity discussions with focus groups across Scotland. It’s been great to meet so many people and life on the road with Lucy McGillivray has been entertaining along the way.
“A diversity discussion is about listening to people and understanding their individual needs and perspectives. We’re all different and all have different needs when trying to engage with any organisation. This is really important for our plans to involve a wider cross-section of society with NFU Scotland’s work. Outcomes from this roadshow and results from the online survey will now form recommendations for the NFUS Board.”
While a main focus of the diversity discussion project has now ended with the roadshow, Caroline and Lucy will be hosting an online discussion on 24 July. Once again, the invite has been opened to anyone who would like to be involved.
Lucy has also encouraged everyone to complete NFU Scotland’s online diversity survey (
available here). Reflecting on the roadshow events she said: “It’s been great fun and really good to get round all of Scotland, speaking to members and non-members along the way. There’s been a lot of really important points raised at discussions, particularly around inclusive language and meeting scheduling. All of this will help improve our work at the Union.”
Notes to editors
- Caroline Millar currently works with Scottish Agritourism and has over a decade’s worth of experience in Agricultural Boards including NFU Scotland, SRUC, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Food Tourism. She is available for interview upon request.
- Lucy McGillivray is an NFU Scotland Policy Advisor, specialising in Horticulture and Next Generation. Her close working relationship with the Next Gen Committee makes her passionate about encouraging more Union involvement from young farmers.
- NFU Scotland’s diversity discussion survey, is available via the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2MRFXRV.
- As part of the Union Roadshow, diversity discussions were held in Kinross, Stirling, Berwickshire, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Oban, Dingwall, Aberdeen, Lerwick and Kirkwall.
- An online meeting, hosted by Caroline and Lucy via Zoom, will be held on 24 July. Register here: https://www.nfus.org.uk/policy/nfu-scotland-diversity-discussion.aspx.
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Contact Brooke Harwood on 07823 556253