Alastair Johnston  is your manager for agriculture. He works with you to make sure the industry is professional, dynamic and competitive and so you get the most out of skills.

Read more...

Your Industry Manager Alastair Johnston

Helping you get the most out of skills.

 

My CV

I grew up on a large mixed enterprise farming estate which was managed by my father on behalf of the Cooperative Wholesale Society (CWS), one of the largest farming organisations in the UK. I used this opportunity to gain practical experience by working on a number of other estates and farms owned by the CWS at various different locations throughout the UK. 

 I graduated with a BSc Honours Degree in Agriculture with land and Farm Management in 1998.

Following this I took a position as a trainee farm manager based in Northamptonshire, The business and man management skills developed in this role proved most beneficial when I ventured outside the Agricultural sector for a 3 year period as the business development manager for Newcastle – Under- Lyme sixth form college, gaining an additional turnover to the college through training courses, skills development and distance learning studies within businesses.

In 2004 I returned to the Agricultural sector and worked for the National Farmer Union as their Livestock Adviser, firstly based in the London Head office then relocating to the New Warwickshire based site. Within this role I represented the farming industry on a number of Government stakeholder groups and worked with the supply chain, as well as raising awareness via lobbying on the regulatory issues facing the livestock sector. I held this position for 6 years and was seeking a new challenge, so when I was offered a position as an Agricultural and Rural Business consultant in Cheshire I accepted this opportunity and used all my previous experiences and knowledge to help businesses become more profitable, gain funding and diversify.

Recently I have returned to the Stoneleigh Park site to work as the Industry Partnership Manager for Agriculture at Lantra, where I engage with agricultural businesses and Government in relation to skills funding, the development and training need for future generations of new entrants and continued professional development of established workforces and employees.

In my spare time, I enjoy photography, and national hunt horse racing. I am member of the Weston Agricultural Discussion group. I am on the committee for the Cheshire County Show’s Agricultural Business Centre.

I live in Staffordshire with my Partner Isobel who is large animal vet. We have one springer spaniel, 2 cats, 1 horse, and a very small flock of chickens.