North Yorkshire Trade Awareness Course

A scorching, successful Trade Awareness Course was hosted in North Yorkshire and Dales region on the 13th & 14th September 2016.

The Association ran a similar course back in 2008 and the Executive Committee felt that another visit was long overdue and this course certainly lived up to the previous one. From initially advertising the course it was fully booked within two weeks with a waiting list as well.

The six host companies were all very accommodating and took time out of their busy schedules to give the delegates an insight into their business. This mainly took the format of a presentation before the delegates had the opportunity to look around their sites. In some cases the hosts kindly fed and watered the group which was very much appreciated.

Fourteen delegates and two chaperones met on a beautiful, sunny Tuesday morning at the Kings Head Pub, Masham to start the course. They then had a short mini bus ride to Melmerby for their first visit which was to Primary Diets. The delegates then returned to Masham for a working lunch before getting a guided tour around the I’Anson Bros site. With the temperature rising to 30+ degrees, the delegates all returned to the hotel for a quick wash and brush up before heading to T & R Theakstons for a guided tour around the Brewery.

It is fair to say the brewery tour was a definite highlight, watching the Association’s President Rob Brocklesby learn how to pull a pint was great fun and once he had got himself behind the bar it was difficult to get him back. The rest of the group tried their hand at making beer barrels which became quite competitive and was definitely not as easy as it was made to look, did Anthony McGuinness really cheat?

Everyone returned to the hotel about 7.30pm for a most enjoyable evening meal and more opportunities to catch up and make new acquaintances.

Day two started off with a guided tour around Peter Robinson’s Home Farm in Northallerton.  Peter grows organic vegetables and also runs an Anaerobic Digester unit, this is the first time the Association has visited such an establishment and it was definitely an excellent talking point. The group then moved onto Topcliffe, Thirsk for the last two visits which were to Cargill Premix & Nutrition and last but by no means least IPN, formerly known as Wagg Foods.

On the bus journey back to Masham, delegates were asked to complete the customary course questionnaire. “Great chance to meet people within the industry and gain knowledge about other working practises, also great fun” and “Thank you – thoroughly enjoyed it and have learnt a lot about the different areas of the ag industry”, were just two of the responses.

The weather was absolutely fantastic, although possibly a little bit too hot at times, 34 degrees in Yorkshire in the middle of September is definitely not the norm. Overall, it was a great course with a really good group of delegates, excellent chaperones and superb host companies.

Annual Dinner 2016

This year the Dinner had just short of 300 members and guests attending.  The evening got off to a good start with a champagne and canapés reception before moving into the newly decorated function suite at the Mercure called the International Suite.  Guests enjoyed the menu which consisted of smoked salmon, black pepper cream cheese, capers and shallots.  This was followed by roast fillet of pork, crushed carrot & spinach, crispy sage and Yorkshire cider jus, Irish cream cheesecake and a cheeseboard.

Prior to the Dinner Robert Brocklesby presented a cheque for £2,000 to Sally Connor, the North East Representative for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I.).  Sally gave a brief but stark speech to remind us all how quickly lives can be changed in a split second and how desperately needed our donation is. 

The Association holds a prize draw each year at the Dinner to raise funds for the various Charities it supports including the R.A.B.I.  This year the prize draw raised £2,760 and the Executive Committee would like to thank everyone for their generous support.

After Dinner, Robert Brocklesby the Association’s President made a witty and interesting speech about the Association’s year.  The guests were then entertained by a comedian called Rudi West before the concluding the formalities of the evening.

Some used the complimentary shuttle buses at mid-night to return to their hotels, whilst others stayed chatting in the bars until the early hours.  There was a really good positive and happy vibe about the whole evening. Every effort is made to ensure the dinner does not clash but unfortunately it is sometimes unavoidable.

The exact date for the 2017 will be confirmed.

Golf AM/AM Tournament2016

The Association held its annual Golf Tournament on Thursday 12th May 2016 at Brough Golf Club. This event is open to anyone and huge congratulations go to Humberside Aggregates who were this year’s overall winners. The H.C.F.T.A. Trophy Cup which is awarded to the highest placed Association member was Yorkshire Shipping Ltd who also came 2nd in the overall competition. The event usually has good weather and it was a lovely sunny day again this year, although there was a keen breeze on certain parts of the course which added another dimension for the golfers.

Full details of the 2017 tournament will be made available shortly.