About Us
What is Stockmen UK?
Stockmen UK is a registered charity committed to helping secure a viable future for UK dairy farming. It is managed by a council made up of herdsmen and others working across the dairy industry. The President of Stockmen UK is Professor Wynne Jones, Principal of Harper Adams University College. It operates as a number of geographical regions and each region has a regional co-ordinator, many of whom are herdsmen.
We believe that highly skilled, well-motivated and committed staff are the foundation upon which successful dairy farm businesses can be developed.
The dairy industry is undergoing a period of sustained and fundamental change. The supply of skilled labour is a major issue which threatens to undermine the development of well-managed and profitable dairy herds.
The challenge is to retain experienced staff in the industry and to develop high calibre new entrants to meet this demand and to help move the industry forward.
The industry needs the establishment of a defined career path for herdsmen, a way to differentiate the ‘top performer/professional herdsmen’ and the means to ensure herdsmen continue to have the correct skills mix.
Until now there has not been an organisation representing the concerns of people employed on dairy farms. Stockmen UK fills this void.
We believe the industry must face up to a number of problems including:
- the need to establish a defined career path for herdsmen,
- a way to differentiate the ‘top performer/professional herdsmen’
- the means to ensure herdsmen continue to have the correct skills mix in a fast –advancing technically complex industry.
It is essential that the role of herdsman is held in sufficiently high regard. No longer should people be referred to as ‘just a herdsman’. It is important that the requirements and pressures of the position are widely appreciated across the industry. It will be vital to dispel the view that ‘managing dairy cows is a prison sentence’.
Stockmen UK will play a pivotal role in meeting these challenge head on by:
- Helping set standards for herdsmen
- Creating and promoting a career structure and helping identify opportunities for new entrants
- Providing an umbrella organisation for on-going training
- Providing a voice for this essential and under-represented group of professionals
- Helping alleviate feelings of isolation and vulnerability often felt by herdsmen by providing a networking structure.
We believe that by creating a new force in the industry focussing on those people who work on dairy farms, we can deliver significant benefits to the industry:
- The standard of herdsmen working in the UK dairy industry would be maintained and progressively increased
- We can provide an industry benchmark for skills
- We can help increase staff satisfaction and consequently have a positive bearing on retention within the industry and the flow of new entrants
- We can help improve recruitment on farm
- We will provide a new essential voice in industry debate
- We can help create a structured, defined career path
- We can contribute to the continuous improvement in technical efficiency within the industry
Membership will be open to anyone who makes a living from milking cows provided that basic entry criteria are achieved. A student membership category is also available.
What does Stockmen UK do?
Stockmen UK provides a range of services to anyone employed to milk dairy cows. As we grow so the range of services will increase:
Training Continuous Professional Development training courses designed to let maintain your skills. Training is recorded and Stockmen UK training records will be a powerful addition to your CV. Members help design the training programme to make sure we run the courses you need. Go to the CPD tab for more information.
A voice in the industry It is essential the views of herdsmen are heard across the industry. We represent your concerns and actively promote the benefits of employing top quality herdsmen. We will carry out member surveys and other activities to understand the real concerns of herdsmen and then actively work on your behalf to tackle these concerns and issues. Go to the news tab for details of recent press activity.
Regional support through our regional structure we arrange a programme of social gatherings and farm walks that allow herdsmen to stay in contact with each other and share experiences. Details of the regions and of planned activities can be found under the regions tab.
Website and newsletters your way to keep in touch with us. Produced specifically for members, the website and newsletters will discuss the things you believe are important. In the member area of this website you will find a variety of forums and discussion groups as well as a number of special offers exclusive to our members.
Development of a career structure many herdsmen leave the industry because there is no career structure and they feel under-valued. We will work to produce a national structure which allows people to develop their careers and take pride in their achievements.
