AIC at 20: Strengthening Scottish agri-supply industry representation with AIC Scotland
As AIC marks 20 years as the UK agri-supply industry’s leading trade association, we're looking back at some of its greatest achievements since it was founded in 2003.
Each week throughout 2023, we’ll explore a major achievement where AIC represented its Member businesses, promoted the benefits of modern commercial agriculture in the UK, and supported collaboration throughout the food chain.
This week, discover how AIC Scotland represents Scottish Member businesses in the agri-supply industry with a dedicated Policy Manager.
Scottish focus
While AIC Scotland has existed for as long as AIC itself, in 2018 its visibility and influence were strengthened with the appointment of a Policy Manager dedicated to representing Scottish Members.
For the past five years, AIC Scotland Members have enjoyed enhanced representation on the issues closest to their businesses through the work of Ian Muirhead and the wider AIC team.
A fifth-generation beef and sheep farmer, Ian farms in partnership with his father in West Stirlingshire and is one of several AIC staff members to have close family ties to farming.
Over the years, AIC Scotland has gained the industry’s support to take forward key lobbying positions for the Scottish agri-supply industry.
The role of AIC Scotland and its Policy Manager has become ever more crucial since the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and greater divergence between governments in Westminster and Holyrood on policy issues such as precision breeding and farm support payments.
Engaging with Holyrood
Having a Policy Manager focused on working with Scottish food and farming stakeholders has helped to form a unified position on key industry topics, including funding and support payments for Scottish agriculture.
Engaging with the Scottish Government at a ministerial level to influence policy decisions at the highest level has been a core focus of Ian’s, making sure the united voice of AIC Scotland Members is clearly heard.
Members in Scotland are represented by a number of sector-specific Scottish committees. Representatives sit on several AIC committees and working groups which ensures that information and issues are effectively shared between both AIC and Members in Scotland.
Arranging visits to Member companies for members of the Scottish Government and stakeholders has helped to improve the understanding of the agri-supply industry’s vital role in food security and convey Members’ points of view.
Watch the video below to learn about AIC's role as the UK agri-supply industry's trade association.
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Authors
Oli Hill
As Communications Manager, Oli creates and oversees the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media.
