Past, Present & Future
From heritage to innovation, see how British Wool continues to evolve and grow.
About Us
Founded in 1950, British Wool (officially the British Wool Marketing Board) is the last remaining marketing organisation governed by the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958. Operating under the British Wool Marketing Scheme (Approval) Order 1950, British Wool is a farmers’ organisation built on cooperative principles. It represents around 30,000 registered wool producers across the UK, working to collect, grade, promote, and sell their fleece wool to the global textile industry for use in flooring, furnishings, and apparel.
British Wool is managed by a Board of nine elected non-executive farmer members, each representing a different region of the UK. These members are supported by regional farmer committees, which help communicate British Wool’s activities to farmers and gather feedback to guide decision-making. The Board also includes three non-executive industry appointees, offering valuable expertise. Led by an elected producer member, the Board oversees the organisation’s strategy, key business decisions, and overall performance.
The Senior Leadership Team supports the Board, driving strategy, commercial initiatives, and day-to-day operations.
With its Head Office in Bradford, British Wool also has regional offices in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, along with international offices in Japan and China.
