31 Years at British Wool
Gareth Jones, Head of Member Engagement at British Wool, will be a familiar face with many farmers and stakeholders across the UK. This year marks Gareth’s 31st year working for British Wool (across two periods, 1990-2004 and 2008 to present)
As British Wool marks its 75th Anniversary, we meet with Gareth to discuss 31 years at British Wool and 35 years within the agricultural industry.
When did you start with British Wool?
Technically, I started in 1988 with a summer job when I was at college studying a BTEC in Business and Finance. When I finished college, I was asked if I was interested in the Administrator role at the depot in Denbigh, North Wales. I accepted and became employed full-time in 1990. My role was responsible for all depot administration, and the intake and dispatch sections.
What would you say are the biggest changes from then to now?
My waistline would be the first thing!! Back then, everything was done manually; I had no computer or mobile phone, no email, WhatsApp groups, text messages, it was all done on a landline and pigeon……………sorry, paper and pen. Letters would be sent in the post to members confirming their collection details, etc. All the paperwork from the depot, such as receipts of wool and grading details, was sent to the Welsh Regional Office in Newtown, where the information was inputted onto the farmer’s account ready for payment.
In terms of the depot, much has changed, such as the packing machines. We used to have the old bank bottom packing machines that were bigger-sized bales and not as heavy as the current bales, which produce smaller and heavier bales. Core testing of wool is key, so buyers at the auction have the confidence to buy the product they need. Back in the early 90s, it was all done manually, whereas since the late 90s, a machine has been developed.
You left British Wool in 2004 for 4 years. What did you do then?
I was aware of proposals to close the Denbigh depot and had always been quite ambitious – this encouraged me to try something different. I was appointed County Executive Officer for the Farmers Union of Wales in 2004, covering the four North East Wales counties. The role managed the union’s activity across the counties, including membership, communications, policy, and political engagement. This was a role I thoroughly enjoyed. I learnt so much during my short period with the Union. The opportunity to return to British Wool cam up in 2008 and the opportunity was too strong as I was returning to an organisation I’d worked in for 14 years and firmly believed in the important role and principles of British Wool as an organisation representing farmers.
What is your role at British Wool?
The role has evolved over the last 17 years to what it is today. I am very proud to be the Head of Member Engagement and a member of the Senior Leadership Team at British Wool. I’m not sure what the 19-year-old Gareth Jones would have said in 1990, but it has been and continues to be a role and organisation I thoroughly enjoy working for. Along with the Member Engagement team, I am responsible for managing all member-facing activity, including marketing, communications, stakeholder engagement, and customer service.
In 2017, I spent 8 months working as Operational Improvement Manager for the business, supporting the UK depot network on productivity and identifying improvements across the business.
How have things changed in the last 17 years?
In terms of my role, many things have changed, such as technology and the various platforms and applications available to support our marketing and communication efforts. The different ways of communicating with members have changed, for example, social media, digital, direct communication via email or text, and various electronic newsletters such as Graze and Shear News. Although traditional communication remains important through the press, face-to-face, and postal, the communication options available to us today make it easier, quicker, and more cost-effective to communicate with our members.
What does the future hold?
I see a bright future for British wool; there is a lot of interest in the fibre our members are producing, and the number of brands wanting to use British wool. Long may this and British Wool continue to be a strong voice and representation for UK sheep farmers.