Richard Longthorp

Richard has been actively involved in the advocacy of skills development and professionalisation for more than 20 years. He's held several leading roles in pursuing this advocacy at farm, sector and industry levels, as well as through working on a number of initiatives with Defra. He's currently Chair of the Trailblazer Employer Group which is developing apprenticeships for agriculture and horticulture.

Richard previously chaired the BPEX-sponsored pig industry group to develop a strategy for skills development in the pig sector – “From Sustainability to Sustained Ability”. He also chaired the industry wide AgriSkills Forum which produced the strategy document “Towards a New Professionalism”.

Richard's also been actively involved in the National Pig Association, and has twice been its Chair.

He has a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Nottingham and spent a brief spell working in Zambia.

Richard is married to Diana. His son runs the farming business and his daughter runs her own free range pork retail and wholesale business using the farm’s pigs. He's an active member of his local Rotary Club.