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We talk to graduates of the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme to find out more about their lives, leadership journey and plans for the future.
21 Episodes
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In this episode, Julia Latto of Scottish Enterprise and rural consultant Emily Grant talk openly about leadership and the lifelong value of the Rural Leadership Programme. They reflect on the many opportunities open to the Programme's Alumni to continue their leadership and business growth journey. And in this episode, there's a sneak preview of what's in store for 2026. The Scottish Rural Leadership Programme takes business owners and senior leaders on a transformational journey to ig...
The Scottish Rural Leadership Programme takes business owners and senior leaders on a transformational journey to ignite their businesses, communities and Scotland as a whole. Hear what some of those leaders had to say about what drives them during this year's closing conference, when we focussed on storytelling for leadership. Soundfile produced by StrategyStory.
Poran Malani is a marketer who has an astute perceptiveness that enables him to identify the challenges that are holding businesses back, and how to address them through clever communication. Having worked with global brands like Coca Cola and Vodafone, he has built a track record as one of the marketing world’s great Ad Men.
At the recent Rural Leaders in Conversation event in the northeast, our podcast host, Jane Craigie, caught up with Rural Leader Donald Boyd. Donald discusses his 15 years of involvement with Huntly Development Trust (HDT) and the investments it has made, and is making, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the market town, including the purchase of Greenmyres and the erection of a community wind turbine. The 63 acre rural site, which is owned and run by the community, has been transforme...
A lovely, open conversation between Sarah Cruickshank, and host, Jane Craigie about Sarah's role managing fly fishing and holiday accomodation on the River Deveron. Sarah talks about working with her father, his passion for fishing leading to Deveronside Fishings and ownership of seven miles of double bank fishing. Sarah also talks about rural tourism, fish stocks and the future of fishing and the river Deveron.
In our latest podcast, we caught up with Rural Leaders from both sides of the Atlantic at the Highland Show, including our guest speaker Rawley Hicks, who is at the sharp end of agricultural machinery innovation. Tune in to find out what's currently top of mind for these Rural Leaders.
Catherine Drummond Herdman has the most fascinating story. Her home, Megginch Castle, situated between Perth and Dundee, has been in the family since 1660. Borne of generations of plantspeople, it's not at all surprising to hear Catherine's deep relationship with plants, the soil and her heritage. In this very warm and wonderful conversation, Catherine talks about her cancer diagnosis and recovery, the healing and purpose that plants brought her, and her tea and apple growing passions. Cather...
Julia has over 25 years in economic development and currently leads on a wide portfolio of national rural programmes for Scottish Enterprise. These include the Rural Leadership Programme, Agritourism Monitor Farm and many other programmes to support rural leaders to develop themselves, their businesses and their communities. These programmes engage with a wide range of rural sectors including agriculture, tourism, food and drink, energy, horticulture and rural services and involve supporting ...
James Barr has just completed the Rural Leadership Programme and is a man with many talents. Up until recently, he has worked for Cuthbertson in Lanarkshire, designers and manufacturers of winter maintenance. Operating since 1936, the company has remained true to its roots of supporting Scottish rural businesses. James is also involved in the family dairy farm and trained at university as a lawyer – something he will be putting to good use with his new job with SSE. Tune in to this short 15...
Alix Ritchie is a Perthshire farmer and passionate advocate for the rural community, who was recently appointed as the very first Programme Director for Farmstrong Scotland - a new peer-to-peer wellbeing programme. She has developed an understanding of agriculture, education and skills development through working with SAYFC, RHET and most recently QMS as Health & Education Manager. She is also a board member of the Women in Agriculture network. In our podcast this month, she share...
The most recent Rural Leaders' In Conversation event was hosted by Fergus and Alison Younger at Old Leckie Farm. Close to 30 people gathered to hear about the family farming and diversified business, its enterprises comprising of sheep, cattle and laying hens. The Youngers sell meat and eggs direct, have a holiday let and run farm tours with food from their kitchen table. The podcast is a recording of the conversations captured on the farm walk, it is open, honest and full of wi...
Alana has a Bachelor of Communications – Public Relations and is the Communications Manager (Press and Media) for Food Standards Scotland, the public sector food body for Scotland. An Aussie-lass with Scottish family roots, she decided to move to Aberdeenshire after spending time working on the Rural Youth Project and with the team at Jane Craigie Marketing. When not at work, she spends her mornings, afternoons, and weekends as a professional gate opener, relief milker, and buck...
Our podcast this month comes live from the Royal Highland Show, where we caught up with Julian Pace and Julia Latto about the history of the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme and its positive impact on rural communities, as well as speaking to six Rural Leaders to find out about their journey. Our thanks go to Ben Mardall, Donald Paterson, Caroline Hamilton, David Allison, Clare Dickson and Kevin Lesser for joining us.
Our podcast this month comes from the Scottish Borders, speaking to Denise Walton during our recent visit. We find out more about their focus on biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, and pasture-for-life cattle, with their own on-site butchery. Why not pop your headphones on and head out for a walk as you listen, this one is sure to get you in the mood for the Scottish countryside.
The Rural Leadership programme brings together a diverse range of people and businesses, with a shared passion for rural Scotland. Our next podcast speakers to Keith Mcelrea who runs a pharmacy business in Dumfries and Galloway. During this very honest conversation, he talks about some of the challenges he has faced, solutions identified, shared learning, and how one of his pharmacies is at the fore of cutting-edge technology.
Catriona (Katy) Caie, was part of the 2022/23 cohort of Rural Leaders. A former army major, a keen horsewoman and a coach who wants people to be the best version of themselves, to achieve their dreams and live a fulfilled, holistic and unrestricted life. Here is an open, uplifting and extremely open conversation between Katy and Jane Craigie.
Caroline Millar has been a champion for Scotland’s agritourism sector linking the beauty of place, strong storytelling and food. She and her husband, Ross, run a farm at the foot of the Sidlaw Hills, they run a luxury tourism business, The Hideaway Experience, focused on secluded breaks for couples. Caroline is forthright, she digs in, she gets things done. Over ten years she has expended “blood, sweat and tears” – with key people in the public sector, including Scottish Enterprise’s J...
Keesje has her heart and life centred on food and the environment, she works for Ricardo Energy & Environment as a consultant in sustainable land use, climate change and farming. Keesje and her family also run Burmieston, which she describes as a place to stop and learn - 'the kind of place where you can find a lot of space and a little bit of peace.' Keesje talks about her joyous experience at the Oxford Farming Conference, and, the game that she played to overcome her nervousnes...
This episode is a recording of a speech given by Ryan at the Welcome Event for the 2022/3 Rural Leadership Programme. Ryan has always wanted to do something that makes a difference. He is the Military Matters Manager at Housing Options Scotland, a role that sees him support Armed Forces veterans and service personnel so they can find the right home. His compassion for helping others is inspirational, and when you hear his own personal story, you will understand why it ...
In this episode, Jane Craigie caught up with Sascha Grierson who wears three hats, she works for SAC Consulting where she heads up the Scottish Farm Business Survey, is involved in the family’s organic farm and she consults on the diversification of rural businesses. In this honest conversation about life, family farming and business, Sascha talks about the importance of diversifying your thinking, your business and yourself – she says that she is in her third iteration of herself! She also t...
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