Former Warwickshire county adviser George Bostock is relishing the opportunity to use the skills he has garnered to manage the Midlands’ CA team, engage with members and encourage the next generation of farmers.
A farmer’s son from central Warwickshire, George is still actively involved with the family’s 300-acre farm alongside working for the NFU since graduating from university in 2013.
He has cut his teeth with NFU CallFirst, the bTB team and as county adviser for Warwickshire and Worcestershire, as well as Gloucestershire.
Fantastic opportunity
“Having been in the CA role for eight years in Warwickshire, this is a fantastic opportunity and one that I am looking forward to,” he told BF&G.
“I believe my experience in the CA role will allow me to come in with fresh ideas and hopefully support the network in a greater way than has previously been possible.
“By working with the senior team of regional director Rob Newbery and policy manager Sarah Faulkner as well as the communications and environment advisers, I believe we can ensure the Midlands is delivering its maximum potential with the CAs and group secretaries at the heart of this.”
George wants to ensure he is meeting staff and members throughout the Midlands as he gets to grips with his new position.
“By working with the senior team of regional director Rob Newbery and policy manager Sarah Faulkner as well as the communications and environment advisers, I believe we can ensure the Midlands is delivering its maximum potential with the CAs and group secretaries at the heart of this.
“Initially I want to be spending as much time as possible out and about across the region, spending time with CAs and offering support in each county, understanding the issues on the ground as well as meeting the group secretaries and members. I hope to get to as many summer shows as possible as well as other local activity,” he said.
“I want to be putting fresh ideas into the network that will engage members and the next generation into the NFU."
George Bostock
"I will also be guiding the CAs and passing on best practice to showcase what the NFU is all about to our members.”
Incredible resource
George is keen to highlight the huge array of work undertaken by county advisers to members. He adds: “They are an incredible resource and I am looking forward to working with each and every one of them and showcasing their work to members,” he said.
“The breadth of tasks they complete, from offering individual member advice on specific issues to lobbying police, councils and MPs to the benefit of the industry, is incredible and offers great value both locally and nationally.
“On top of this, they are supporting group secretaries in the branch structure, as well as members with local events.
“CAs, GSs and members are the backbone of the NFU and I look forward to working with them all. I will miss hugely the close working and friendly relationship I had with my members and GSs in Warwickshire and it is these relationships from each of our CAs that make the NFU special.”
Away from work
George is married with two children, four-year-old Harriet and tractor-obsessed Charlie, two, and enjoys spending as much time as possible with them. His hobbies centre around keeping active; playing rugby in the winter, cricket in the summer and running – with a completed London Marathon under his belt. Next on his list is a triathlon, when time allows the training.