Farming is a key player in the Cumbrian business community
Last updated 08:45, Friday, 02 May 2008
FARMING is a key part of Cumbria’s business community according to H&H Group’s new chief executive.
Brian Richardson’s comments come just a fortnight after it emerged that farming was missed off a county economic plan drawn up by Cumbria Vision.
On a “get to know you” visit to Carlisle’s Borderway Mart this week, the 47-year-old spoke exclusively to The Cumberland News about the challenges he expects to face when he takes over from Trevor Hebdon on June 2.
He said: “The rural and farming economy is much more part of the business economy in Cumbria than in Lincolnshire.
“Agriculture is very much a key business here.”
Three years ago Mr Richardson was brought in to troubleshoot at Lincolnshire farmers’ co-operative CWG Ltd.
It was struggling with a huge pension scheme deficit, just as H&H was when Mr Hebdon took over a decade ago.
Both companies are now out of the doldrums and looking forward to a new management regime.
Mr Richardson said: “In some ways, I’m very lucky. Trevor’s done all the hard work sorting out the pension scheme and getting a good balance sheet.
“He has put together a team of first class people who will take challenges like bluetongue and the credit crunch in their stride.”
During his time at CWG, which employs 160 people, he increased turnover and market share by 20 per cent.
The co-operative supplies 7,000 farmers in central and eastern counties with feed, fertiliser and equipment.
He describes his style as “Management By Walkabout” and says one of his key strengths is building and supporting strong teams.
Three months after starting his new job, he plans to draw up a strategic plan for the company. He added: “I want to develop the business further, there is a lot of potential here. It’s nice to come to a business where you have a little bit of time to come up with a vision.”
Cumbria’s relative isolation he does not see as a problem and points to successful areas of Scotland that have built strong brand identities. He feels that geography is shrinking and the county’s relative isolation is becoming less and less significant.
While the younger of Mr Richardson’s two daughters completes her A levels, they and his wife Sandra will remain in Lincolnshire and he will travel home at weekends.
He plans to increase market share of the group’s various brands including the land agency, finance and insurance businesses. He said: “In some of our businesses, we don’t have a massive market share. There is considerable scope to increase that.”
