Why Jessica would be an effective mentor

  • Jessica has worked at a senior level in the areas of food hygiene and standards for many years and has extensive knowledge of both the agri-food and farming sectors in Wales.  A member of the Welsh Food Advisory Committee, which advises the Food Standards Agency on food policy matters in Wales, she is also a full-time beef and sheep farmer. 
  • Jessica has run her own family farm business for 21 years and is an established Welsh Black Cattle breeder who has won awards for both Small Herd of the Year and for highest priced animals at Society sales.
  • Having set up her own successful ‘meat boxes’ business selling directly to consumers in 2021, she believes her expertise and knowledge of the agri-food sector could benefit individuals considering either diversifying or planning to develop an existing food sector enterprise. 
  • A Farming Connect Agrisgôp leader for five years, she has considerable experience of working with new and start-up diversification enterprises.  Well-used to encouraging members to take forward their business ideas, she has finely-attuned listening and observational skills and is keen on goal-setting, ‘seeing things through’ and achieving business objectives.  Her group topics included Business & Innovation; Dual purpose sheep breeds; On-farm slaughterhouse; Beekeeping; Carbon and Meat boxes.

Current farm business

  • Jessica’s home farm has a pedigree herd of Welsh Black suckler cattle with 30 breeding cows and replacement followers. Heifers are sold as pedigree and some steers sold as stores and the rest fattened for beef boxes sold direct to the final consumer. 

  • They also have a flock of 500 Welsh Mountain Hill ewes kept on an uplands system, and 120 Pedigree Lleyn ewes on the lowland system. All lambs are finished on farm and sold direct to Dunbia.

  • In 2021, Jessica set up a diversified venture selling beef boxes directly to the final consumer from the farm and through a courier service. 
     

Qualifications/achievements/experience

  • 2021-present  Member of the Welsh Food Advisory Committee (WFAC) advising the Food Standards Agency on Food Policy in Wales.
  • 2019-2021  Aberystwyth University - Postgraduate Certificate in Change Leadership (incl. coaching & mentoring module) - PGCert 
  • 2012  Institute of Leadership and Management Training - ILM Level 2 Award in Team leading
  • 2009  Integra Training - Lead auditor in Food Safety Management Systems
  • 2006  Chartered Institute of Environmental Health - Certificate of Registration with Environmental Health Registration Board
  • 2002-2006  University of Wales Institute Cardiff - BSc Environmental Health (First Class Honours)
  • 2008  Hybu Cig Cymru Scholarship (Beef & cattle industry in Australia) 
  • 2016/17 Agri Academy Rural Leadership Programme
  • 2018/19  Tesco Future Farmers
  • 2022-24  NFU Next Generation programme

Tips for business success

“Follow your heart, enjoy what you are doing and be true to yourself”
“Learn from others, build a support network & do not be afraid to ask for help”
“Think both short term and long term goals; stay focused and motivated to achieve these”
“Make time for yourself, your health and wellbeing  are priceless"

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