Laurencekirk-based Ringlink is seeking to appoint board members for a three-year term. Growing in its geographic reach, the machinery ring is looking for people with a background in farming and grounds maintenance, training and trading to bring additional skills and experience into the team and drive forward the cooperative to an exciting future.
Ringlink’s Chair, James Porter, said: “Now in its 34th year, Ringlink has become the first choice for 3000 members looking for a reliable supply of machinery, labour, training, services, utilities, and commodities. The ground-breaking land-based pre-apprenticeship scheme is a particular source of pride.
“Ringlink has a combined turnover of over £63 million, as the business continues to grow, there is a need for new directors to enable succession planning, and to add to the wide range of skill and experience already on the board. My time as a director and now chair has been a refreshing chance to look beyond my own business and be part of a bigger picture, and I would like to invite any members who are keen to contribute to a forward thinking, inquisitive and co-operative board to apply.
Graham Bruce, Managing Director, added: “The business is busy and growing; we have a daily average of 320 workers supplied throughout the year and manage sizable amounts of fuel, fertiliser and utility contracts for the membership. It’s a very exciting time for new board members to join us.”
Buoyant training division
The ring also has a buoyant training division, Ringlink Services, which provides a wide range of courses. The business has recently acquired a new training facility close to the ring’s headquarters in Laurencekirk and together with the expansion of the Cargill Centre, Ringlink has invested £1million to develop both sites, so that they offer endless opportunities for the future.
“We believe in skills’ investment,” he adds. “Ringlink Services has been delivering training for over twenty-five years to an extremely diverse customer base throughout Scotland and the wider UK. Last year, even with the challenges of training of Covid social distancing, we had close to 7,000 trainees through our courses.
“We have a strong network of professional trainers and assessors who have expertise in delivering a range of legislative and practical short courses, such as Health and Safety, First-aid, Forklift Operation, Pesticides, Chainsaw Operation, ATV’s and our training portfolio already exceeds 100 certified courses, along with a selection of online training events.”
The new training premises will host a more extensive range of courses, including construction-based training such as new roads and street works, crane operation, excavation and dumpers. Mr Bruce adds that Ringlink will be investing in a simulator which will be designed for both agricultural and construction training.
Ringlink has also supported young people into a career in farming with 126 under-18-year-olds now having completed the pre-apprenticeship programme.
Ringlink’s current Chair is James Porter who farms soft fruit, potatoes and arable crops alongside a suckler beef herd at East and West Scryne. Current board members are: Peter Chapman (Vice Chair), Martin Cessford, Jane Craigie, John Farquharson, Michael Macaulay, James Orr, Clive Phillips and Andrew Stirling.
Anyone interested in applying for a board position should contact the company secretary at: laurencekirk@ringlinkscotland.co.uk – please note, board members will also need to be or become a member of Ringlink to stand.
