Müller Direct Next Generation sees dairy farmers collaborate with athletes

Müller has published details of its ‘Next Generation’ programme for 25 Müller Direct farmers – and confirmed that it will include face time with elite athletes, as part of the company’s status as Official Supporter of British Athletics and Athletics Ireland.

Müller has branding and activation rights for seven major athletics events in 2018 and 2019 and is working closely with brand ambassadors, which include, Adam Gemili and Dina Asher-Smith. The farmers will spend time with athletes who will pass on their knowledge and experience of learning from setbacks, single-mindedness, resilience and desire to succeed.

Müller Direct Next Generation is a fully sponsored programme designed to develop and enhance the skills of the next generation of Müller Direct farmers in Britain.

The programme comprises a series of two day workshops held in different locations around the country and is aimed at individuals within dairy farming who are driven to progress and focus on their own professional development.

The first cohort comprises dairy farmers from North Lanarkshire, Pembrokeshire and Dorset. Workshops include establishing business principles, leadership, managing people and potential, negotiating and managing succession.

Rob Hutchison, Müller milk supply director, says, “We believe that our Müller Direct Next Generation group has the potential to be Britain’s elite dairy farmers in the future so we feel that there is a real benefit in offering them the opportunity to meet and learn from today’s elite athletes.

“Equally we know that our Müller ambassador athletes have a real interest in understanding where their food comes from and how the Müller dairy products which they enjoy are made. It’s a great opportunity to have a meeting of the minds.

“The Müller Direct Next Generation programme is a further demonstration of our intent to create a supply chain from farm to customer which is collaborative and distinctive. It sits alongside a range of other initiatives designed to bring new innovation and thinking to our partnerships with dairy farmers, and they are being embraced by those who supply us.”

Frances Bell who farms in Cambridgeshire and is one of 25 farmers selected to join the Next Generation programme, comments, “I am excited to have been selected to take part in the Müller Next Generation programme. It will allow me to develop new skills and give me the confidence to utilise them within my family farming business.

“In an industry often associated with working in isolation the Next Generation programme gives us the opportunity to network with other like-minded young farmers. We will be working together with Müller to help secure a successful and sustainable future for us all within the dairy industry.”

Johnnie Sloan, farming in Dumfriesshire and another successful applicant joining the programme said;

“I am delighted to be selected as part of the Next Generation group and look forward to progressing and challenging my business. By collaborating and learning from both Müller and forward thinking farmers I hope to manage the transition of our farm as we look to build a second dairy unit.”

The first Müller Direct Next Generation workshop takes place in June 2018.

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