Last week, more than 100 FUW Group staff gathered for our two day Annual Business Conference at IBERS, Aberystwyth, writes FUW Brecon & Radnor Executive Officer Kath Shaw.

And what a great event it was, with guest speakers including former Welsh international rugby player, Rupert Moon and Noel Mooney, Chief Executive of the Football Association of Wales inspiring the team. 

FUW Annual Business Conference
There were an handful of guest speakers at the FUW event (FUW)

Amidst the business talks, the target setting and the policy discussion, one important aspect of the event was the social catch ups. In a world where we’ve been forced to up our game with technological communications following the storm of COVID-19, it can be very easy to continue in this mode. But, to us, as an organisation, it is important that we continue to meet each other, our customers and our partner agencies face to face complimented with the efficiency and ease of telecommunication, emails and on-line meetings. 

Our main theme at this year’s Staff Annual Business Conference was “Why FUW?” Why do staff enjoy working for us? Why do customers turn to us for insurance? And why do farmers join the FUW? Some of the facts and figures from the past year concreted some of the answers during the event:

• 14 new staff members welcomed to the organisation 

• 6 beautiful newborn babies and 1 stunning wedding! 

• 79 brand new FUW members joined this great team

• Over 10,000 tasks carried out on behalf of Welsh farmers

• Over 3,000 application forms filled and completed to support Welsh businesses

• 26 national agricultural and rural consultations collated and inputted with in-depth detailed farming focus

• 80 stakeholders and political meetings where we shared expert farming policy advice

It’s been a fantastic year, and we’re immensely proud of the work we have achieved on behalf of our farming members and the agricultural sector as a whole. It has not been an easy year, what with the cost of living pressures affecting farm businesses, the dire wet weather affecting crops and day to day tasks plus the furore of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme down in Cardiff Bay. But together the conference galvanised what we have achieved as a team.

15 of our main insurance companies attended the event and shared some of their key company priorities whilst also socialising with the staff. We were also told that we have reached a major business target within the insurance business. The team has made astonishing progress in gross premium income during these last few months with the team smashing the growth target for last year and being well ahead of schedule again this year.  This success solidifies our position as the largest specialist agricultural broker in Wales if not the UK.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the team and a huge word of gratitude to the key staff who worked hard to arrange the successful event. Onwards and upwards and with the Royal Welsh Show fast approaching, there’s plenty to keep us all busy!