The Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network is seeking a new Network Chair.
As a group supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the Network exists to champion a collective rural voice.
It enables connectivity across the food, farming and rural sectors and is a vehicle to share important information to regional stakeholders.
It is a valuable network to bring members together and build relationships which can collectively champion and influence at a local, regional, and national level.
Following the end of current Network Chair Madge Moore’s final full term, candidates are sought to take up the voluntary position and direct the Network’s agenda, working closely with the Network’s Coordinator, Holly Jones.
The successful candidate may have an opportunity to steer Grow Yorkshire, a partnership overseen by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, as a dual Chair position. Grow Yorkshire brings together key food and farming partners to advise on the strategic direction and guide the delivery of programmes that support farms to transition to economically and environmentally sustainable systems in York and North Yorkshire. You can find out more about Grow Yorkshire here. This position will be discussed during the interview process.
Holly said:
The Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network has a valuable role to play in both ensuring rural issues are discussed by stakeholders as a collective, and sharing this intelligence with local, regional and national decision makers to influence positive change.
The Network Chair has a key role to play in ensuring a coordinated approach to this important work.
We particularly would like to hear from individuals who have experience in:
• Strong leadership & governance skills
• Strategic vision & policy insight
• Representative of the sector either in rural, farming and food
Candidates will be shortlisted and interviewed by a selection panel drawn from the Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network’s Executive.
To apply
Please send a CV and covering letter before Friday 13th June 2025.
Applications should be addressed to: Holly Jones, Network Coordinator – Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network, Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Regional Agricultural Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ or by email to Hollyj@yas.co.uk
For further information, please contact Holly Jones using the email address above or by calling 01423 546 251.
Recent achievements
The Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network champions the needs of farming, agri-food, rural businesses, and rural communities to enable them to become more resilient, competitive, and sustainable.
Over the past 12 months, the Network’s recent work has included:
- Delivering a monthly newsletter for food farming and rural intermediaries and allied partners. To subscribe to receive the newsletter, click here.
- Delivering a training programme for farming and rural businesses in North Yorkshire. Latest support in collaboration with Askham Bryan College, here: Industry training offered to Young Farmers through YFFRN funding
- Working with Defra and other organisations to share updates on latest policy and champion rural issues with strong working relationships with the East Riding of Yorkshire Rural Partnership and Grow Yorkshire, an initiative to support farming and rural businesses by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
- Engagement with senior national and regional government officials: regular meetings with Defra’s Rural and Place and Future Farming teams.
During the Great Yorkshire Show 2024: - The Network organised and hosted the newly elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith and the leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Anne Handley, on tours of the Showground Their visits provided valuable opportunities to hear the views of local farmers and food producers, face-to-face.
- The Network Chair hosted a panel session in collaboration with OnPath Energy focusing on renewable energy opportunities for rural businesses.
