Podcasts about nfu mutual

Today on Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we bring series two to a close with something slightly different

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we continue looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds

Today on series two of Tales of a Nuffield Scholar supported by NFU Mutual we begin looking ahead to the 2026 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Conference in Leeds

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Speke Adams

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Alex Brewster

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Robin Asquith

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Gordon Whiteford

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah Hughes

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Trevor Alcorn

Welcome back to the Rural Roundup. On today's episode George Chalmers and Mary-Jane Lawrie discuss all things Farm Insurance with NFU Mutual's Douglas Schreiber.Time Stamps03:56 Deadlines and Grant updates07:35 Introduction to Douglas Schreiber08:25 Starting point for insurance renewal discussions09:51 Things farmers should think about ahead of renewal?12:19 The impact of staff qualifications on premiums?14:50 What are the factors which really impact the price of a policy?18:23 Anything people can do to reasonably do to reduce premiums related to storm damage?21:56 How important is it to get your farm valued?24:14 Cyber Security on insurance policies26:31 Trackers and dashcams30:32 What to do in the event of an accident on the road?31:37 Areas of policies which often get overlooked?FAS Resources FAS Eventshttps://www.fas.scot/events/Agritourism Investment Schemehttps://www.ruralpayments.org/topics/all-schemes/agritourism-investment-scheme--ais-/For more information, visit www.FAS.scotTwitter: @FASScotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: advice@fas.scot

Livestock worrying cost UK farmers nearly two million pounds last year, a ten percent increase on the year before. Farm insurers NFU Mutual, who published the figures, say that's in spite of many pet owners believing their own dogs are incapable of injuring or killing farm animals.This week we're exploring the role of the farm vet and today we're out on the round with a cattle vet in Wiltshire. More than two hundred thousand new hedgerow trees are being planted this winter, as part of the Campaign To Protect Rural England's Hedgerow heroes Initiative. BBC South East Today's Chrissie Reidy went along to see planting at the Birling Estate in Kent. Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Sarah Swadling

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Ben Taylor Davies

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Jim Chapman

A special invite to the NFU Mutual offices in Ashford to talk with partners Doug Jackson and Nic Brown about the heritage of the brand, how it's structured across Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield and how it diversifies into wider business protection. Support the show

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Tom Bradshaw

Despite the impact of avian flu, which has been devastating for some turkey farmers, the industry says there will not be a shortage this Christmas. Poultry farms were hit so badly in 2022 that many farmers brought in contingency plans to cope with the possibility of the disease striking them.Rural roads are significantly more dangerous than urban ones. The latest figures from the Department for Transport show that 956 people were killed in 2024, that's 72% more than on urban roads. The figures have been analysed by NFU Mutual insurance, and it's now calling for more specific training for driving on rural roads, especially for those who break the law.The Spanish region of Catalonia is still coping with the arrival of African swine fever, which was first diagnosed in wild boar on November 28th. There have now been 13 confirmed cases in wild boar, and 80,000 pigs are having to be slaughtered as a precaution. The authorities are looking into the possibility that the disease may have leaked from a research facility.Thousands of people are still not connected to the National Grid and rely on generators for power, according to the energy regulator. Ofgem estimates up to 2,000 properties in the UK are still off-grid. Some have been asked to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds if they want a connection. Now a charity in Northumberland says the government should do more to help.All week, we've been talking about rare breeds of livestock and at just 15 years of age, Sebastian Carr is quite the celebrity in the world of rare breed pigs. He's won awards for his herd of Saddlebacks. His passion for pigs began when he was just eight and he received four piglets as a Christmas present.Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Thousands of people are still not connected to the National Grid and rely on generators for power, according to the energy regulator. Ofgem estimates up to 2000 properties in the UK are still off-grid. Some have been asked to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds if they want a connection. Now a charity in Northumberland, where Ofgem identified a particularly large cluster of off-grid households, says the government should do more to help. Despite higher than average rainfall across some of the country, other areas are still in drought, following the exceptionally dry and hot summer. The National Drought Group has reported that record breaking rainfall in November helped the Midlands move out of drought, but parts of Sussex remain in drought.Rural roads are significantly more dangerous than urban ones. The latest figures from the Department for Transport show that 956 people were killed in 2024, that's 72% more than on urban roads. The figures have been analysed by NFU Mutual insurance and it's now calling for more specific training for driving on rural roads, especially for those who break the law. All week we're catching up with rare and native reeds. Longwool sheep of which there are several breeds, are on the priority list of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. There are just 99 registered flocks of the distinctive Lincoln Longwool and the number of sheep has declined to around eight hundred.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Insurance for Crofters and Common Grazings. Welcome back to Crofting Matters! In this episode, Siobhan is joined by Jonathan Hogg, a rural insurance expert from NFU Mutual's Dingwall branch. Johnny has an agricultural background, works in a crofting area and understands the issues that crofters and grazing committees face with access, theft and weather-related incidents. We remove the ambiguity surrounding the need for Public and Employer's liability cover, and what to do if the bull can outrun humans. We discuss: Whether a small crofting business needs insurance, and what kind? The need for Public Liability insurance. Livestock – minimising the risk. Wording on signs. When to cover machinery and livestock for theft and loss. Employer's liability when you may not think of yourself as an employer! Common Grazings and Sheep Stock clubs – cover required. FAS Resources https://www.fas.scot/news/common-grazings-and-sheep-stock-clubs-liability/

Insurance for Crofters and Common Grazings. Welcome back to Crofting Matters! In this episode, Siobhan is joined by Jonathan Hogg, a rural insurance expert from NFU Mutual's Dingwall branch. Johnny has an agricultural background, works in a crofting area and understands the issues that crofters and grazing committees face with access, theft and weather-related incidents. We remove the ambiguity surrounding the need for Public and Employer's liability cover, and what to do if the bull can outrun humans. We discuss: Whether a small crofting business needs insurance, and what kind? The need for Public Liability insurance. Livestock – minimising the risk. Wording on signs. When to cover machinery and livestock for theft and loss. Employer's liability when you may not think of yourself as an employer! Common Grazings and Sheep Stock clubs – cover required. FAS Resources https://www.fas.scot/news/common-grazings-and-sheep-stock-clubs-liability/

The latest episode of the Insurance Post Podcast digs deep into the evolving role of insurance in agriculture and features Charlie Yorke, propositions manager for farming at NFU Mutual, and Steve Smout, head of agriculture at McLarens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Scottish abattoir has closed with the loss of 90 jobs. Scotbeef at Inverurie has been shut. The company says an operational review concluded it was necessary to protect the long-term future of the business amid industry challenges. Earlier this year the number of cattle in Scotland fell to its lowest for a decade and farming groups called for government support to rebuild the national herd, warning that some abattoirs might close because they'd become uneconomic. All this week, we'll be talking about seaweed. At the Holkham estate in north Norfolk, a trial funded by the WWF and the Co-op foundation has been trying to prove that the use of seaweed based biostimulant can reduce the need for artificial nitrogen fertiliser, without affecting yields. If successful it could present a way for farms to reduce costs, and minimise the negative side effects of overusing fertilisers.The cost of rural crime has fallen. New figures from the insurers NFU Mutual show a 16.5% fall last year - the costs are put at £44 million in comparison with £53 million the year before. The biggest fall is in the theft of agricultural vehicles, and the number of animals killed or injured in dog attacks was also down, by a quarter, but livestock theft remained high. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

In this episode of Careers Unwrapped, host Mark Fawcett is joined by Nick Turner, Group Chief Executive Officer at NFU Mutual, to discuss his journey from stacking shelves to leading one of the UK's major insurers, his philosophy of kind and commercial leadership, and why insurance is far more exciting than people think.

Rhodri Davies sy'n sgwrsio ac yn cael cyngor ar stormydd gan Aled Griffiths o NFU Mutual.

In this episode of The Journal Podcast, we explore the vital role of insurance in UK farming and agriculture. We'll be talking about the importance of the farming sector to the UK's economy and environment, the risks involved in farming, and how insurance plays a vital role in supporting farming and agriculture, as well as what the future could hold for British farms. We are joined by Adam Henson, one of the best known farmers in the UK, and author and television Presenter, and David Harrison, Farming Development Manager for NFU Mutual.

Fe welwyd cynnydd o 7% yng nghost troseddau gwledig yma yng Nghymru llynedd yn ôl adroddiad diweddar gan NFU Mutual. Megan Williams sy'n trafod cynnwys yr adroddiad gydag Aled Griffiths, Asiant hefo NFU Mutual yn y Canolbarth, ac yn gofyn iddo am gyngor ar sut i gadw offer ac anifeiliaid fferm yn ddiogel.

On the podcast this week, we are joined by Welsh farmer Clive Jones, Wales' Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies (@huw4ogmore) and Wales' Wildlife and Rural Crime Coordinator Rob Taylor (@rural_wales), to discuss livestock worrying.@WGRuralLivestock worrying, when a dog chases or attacks livestock on agricultural land can have costly consequences on the health, well-being and finances of farmers across the UK. In most cases, farmers are witnessing first-hand the devastation a dog can have on livestock, leaving farmers to pick up the pieces afterwards. Tavistock farmer Chris Dawe said 49 sheep were killed after being attacked by dogs on farm back in January.Last week, Farmers Guardian reported on the devastating livestock worrying attack at Liz Nutting's farm in Lampeter, Ceredigion, which killed 10 of her Ryeland flock. Following numerous bids to seek justice, the dog owner only received a £75 fine despite his dogs causing £6,500 in damages. Cheshire farmer Phil Latham was left disgusted and heartbroken after loose dogs savaged 18 calves in a pen. And you will hear about the impacts of livestock worrying Mr Jones has had to face as well. In its latest annual ‘Rural Crime Report', NFU Mutual said livestock worrying had cost farmers £2.4 million, with animals being severely injured or killed in dog attacks, up nearly 30% compared to the previous year. Incidents keep on taking place on what seems like a weekly basis. But why? Is the law outdated? The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act was created 71 years-ago in 1953. The new Labour Government has yet to confirm whether a private members' bill, tabled by former Defra Secretary Therese Coffey in December to amend the law and provide police with greater powers, will be progressed or notPolice in Scotland have the powers to impose fines of up to £40,000 for owners found worrying livestock, alongside receiving a potential 12 month prison sentence. Is it a lack of respect from dog owners? Incidents can often take place when a dog is not on a lead. And an attitude of ‘my dog could never hurt anyone' still persists. Is education the answer? The Welsh Government has worked hand-in-hand with animal charity Blue Cross and Mr Taylor regarding an optional educational course if dog owners are found worrying livestock. You will hear more about the course in this podcast.Farmers Guardian has been supporting the ‘Take the Lead' campaign, alongside the National Sheep Association to raise awareness of keeping dogs on lead when near livestock. We can provide you with free signs to place around your farm warning dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead near livestock. To request yours, send a stamped self-addressed A4 envelope to: FG Take the Lead, Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9NZ. We will be able to send up to 25 signs. Alternatively, you can contact reporter Chris Brayford if you have been a victim of a livestock worrying incident and if you wish to share your story at chris.brayford@farmersguardian.com. But for now, enjoy the pod!Message us

Ondo InsurTech PLC CEO Craig Foster speaks to Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's latest contract win with with NFU Mutual, marking it as the biggest deal Ondo InsurTech has done in the UK to date. The contract includes an initial roll-out of 17,000 LeakBots by the end of the year, targeting mid to high-net-worth customers. Foster explained, "It's a significant commitment out of the gate from them, and it's a really good brand for us to partner with." He also shared the company's strategy of structuring contracts with initial commitments that expand based on results, similar to their other 18 insurance partners. Additionally, Foster discussed Ondo InsurTech's invitation to join the IoT Insurance Observatory in the United States. This initiative, founded by Matteo Carbone, connects insurers interested in IoT technologies. Foster noted, "It's a really good chance for us within that forum to share some of the results that we're seeing." Foster expressed optimism about the opportunities this membership could unlock, particularly with major US insurers like State Farm and Allstate. He cited the successful adoption of the Ting fire sensor product as a positive precedent for LeakBot. Visit Proactive's YouTube channel for more videos, and don't forget to give the video a like, subscribe to the channel, and enable notifications for future content. #OndoInsurTech #CraigFoster #NFUMutual #IoTInsurance #InsuranceTech #LeakBot #InsuranceIndustry #ProactiveInvestors #TechNews #InsurTech #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

They're everywhere but do you know how to spot them? According to recent research online scams are on the rise and tradespeople could be disproportionally targetted. So today Clive is asking how we can keep ourselves safe.He was joined by Simon Williams from RAC and Jonny Bonell from NFU Mutual.There's also the pub lunch quiz for your chance to grab yourself 6 points as well as the very best messages that we received - enjoy!

Rural crime - the cost of crime in the countryside has jumped by 7 percent in Wales according to the latest figures from the rural insurer NFU Mutual. Fluttered away - Butterfly Conservation reports alarmingly low numbers of butterflies, with the weather a significant factor in the decline.Lime Kilns - the Llanymynech Limeworks, closed over a hundred years ago calls for volunteers to help with the restoration work, wildlife surveys and keeping the site open to the public.Mushrooming success in Gwynedd - the grower who's pioneered a method for raising a range of exotic, Lions Mane mushroomsand how a pop-up pastaria, called Pasta a Mano, has quickly gained a cult following for offering authentic Italian Street Food will be competing in next month's British Street food Awards.

Many rural people are feeling 'vulnerable and intimidated' because of crime according to the National Farmers Union. Figures out this week from the insurers NFU Mutual put the cost at just under £53 million last year - up from 50 million in 2022.The new Labour government is putting renewable energy at the heart of its plans - it wants to double the power from onshore wind farms and triple solar power - both on buildings and in fields.One farm is benefitting from the rain we've endured over recent months, because they want their farm to be more sustainable. So as well as reducing inputs of bought-in feed, fertiliser and fuel and creating new habitats, they are producing hydro-electric power. It keeps their bills down and they can sell electricity back into the grid.A survey by the NFU has shown that while there has been some improvement in the provision of superfast broadband, only 34% of farmers who responded have a fibre connection. And the combines are out at last, one farmer reflects on the joys of a little sunshine.Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Alun Beach

The latest figures out today from the insurers NFU Mutual put the cost of rural crime at just under 53 million pounds last year - up from 50 million in 2022. The renewable energy options open to farmers are various, and the one that would seem to be tailor made for agriculture is anaerobic digestion - or AD.This is the process where silage and slurry are processed in a sealed tank to produce gas that is then used as a fuel to power the farm and possibly put energy back into the grid.And according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board - AHDB - 440 farmers got out of dairy between April 2023 and this April.However the total number of dairy cows is about the same - suggesting that the trend towards bigger farms continues - there are now 7,130 dairy farms in England, Scotland and Wales. Presented by Charlotte SmithProduced by Alun Beach

Rhodri Davies sy'n clywed cyngor gan Aled Griffiths o gwmni NFU Mutual.

We're talking about vets all this week and one of the most difficult and unpleasant jobs they face is dealing with serious illness and disease in livestock, like the devastating foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. Breaking the painful news to a farmer that their whole livelihood is under threat is something no one wants on their job description. The threat of bovine TB can take a heavy toll on the mental wellbeing of both farmers and vets. We meet a dairy farmer in Derbyshire who's lived under the shadow of TB all her life, and also the farm vet who runs the TB Advisory Service which supports farmers and vets.As the general election campaigning continues, party manifestos are coming out, thick and fast. We're going to be taking a detailed look at all of the main manifestos with key party spokes-people, the week before the election on 4th July, but we're also hearing from a range of campaign groups and organisations that live and breath farming, rural life, wildlife and the environment to find out what they would like from the next government. Today it's the Wildlife Trusts, the organisation that campaigns for wildlife and wild places.Ten police forces across the country are to trial new forensic technology to help identify dogs involved in livestock attacks. It involves collecting canine DNA at the scene. The South West of England has more dog attacks of this kind than anywhere else in the country – last year, farm animals worth hundreds of thousands of pounds were severely injured or killed by dogs, according to NFU Mutual. The hope is these new DNA test kits will recue the number of dog attacks. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Food and Drink Federation says new labelling rules will cost food companies million of pounds. From October dairy and meat products for sale in Great Britain will have to have "not for EU" on the packaging, just as products on sale in Northern Ireland have had since last year. The Government says the aim is to make sure that Northern Irish consumers have access to the same goods. The FDF says that's unnecessary could have "grave and unintended consequences" for the UK food and drink sector. We hear from the boss of a dairy company who says it will cost them at least £300,000 to make the change.According to new figures from the insurers NFU Mutual, more than £900,000 worth of farm animals were injured or killed by dogs last year in Wales alone. It's not a new problem. So what's the solution?At this time of year farmers should be putting their cattle out to graze, but in many parts of the UK it hasn't stopped raining long enough for the fields to dry out. Farmers trying to plant crops are also being delayed by the weather as it's too wet to get machinery onto the fields. We look at how much the wet weather is costing the industry.Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

This week we talk to Matt Byrne, Head of Actuarial Function at NFU Mutual, about AI and what practical next steps insurers should be looking to take. We discuss: • What tools and products are available to help you utilise AI and machine learning • How actuaries are well placed to help with the implementation of AI across the business • Key learnings from using AI and some of the current limitations • Tips for being a great mentor and a mentee.

Every police force in the UK should have a dedicated rural crime team - the call comes from the National Rural Crime Network which comprises rural and farming groups and Crimestoppers. As we reported last month, the cost of rural crime went up by 22% last year, that's according to the insurers NFU Mutual. They put the cost of thefts and damage of things like tractors, GPS systems and power tools at nearly £50 million in 2022, up from £40 million in 2021. It's harvest time for British hop growers - but they say that it's not a great time to be in the business. With the popularity of craft beer, you might think that hop growers would have a good market, but they say work force costs, fuel inflation and brewers holding stockpiles of hops since the pandemic mean the industry is struggling to survive.  The world sheep dog trials have been taking place in Northern Ireland - 240 dogs and their handlers were competing in the hopes of becoming World Champion at Gill Hall country estate in Dromore. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A farmer who's lost two bulls believes thieves targeted his farm, in an attempt to take the animals for meat, for the black market. NFU Mutual says livestock theft has cost around £2.5 million over the past 12 months. They say the cost of living crisis is pushing up crime, and theft of diesel has more than doubled in the past year. The importance of fertiliser around the world has been highlighted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia is a top exporter of fertilisers and the chemicals used to make them. But the war has caused supply issues and driven up the price of natural gas, which is a key part of fertiliser production. The head of one of the world's biggest fertiliser firms, YARA, has accused Vladimir Putin of 'weaponising food'. Synthetic fertilisers emit greenhouse gases, so the industry is searching for new technologies that will make low-carbon fertiliser which is affordable. One of the companies which has received government backing is N2 Applied. They take manure, and process it into a nitrogen rich fertiliser, whilst also reducing ammonia and methane emissions. The company says this can be done on-farm and claim their process will reduce a farm's overall greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 per cent. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

David Wilkinson has worked in the financial services market for 40 years, the last 30 of which have seen him and his family based on the Isle of Man. He joined NFU Mutual in 2012 to lead the Isle of Man office going forward and personally provide and ensure the team continues to offer the highest level of service possible to new and existing clients alike for their personal and commercial queries. He reminisces about life growing up in Singapore and the North East of England and shares how he ended up settling on the island and raising a family. David's great passions are football and golf. Do listen to this week's conversation with David Wilkinson in episode 79 of Island Influencers!

In a time of economic recession, customers are becoming more price-sensitive and wary of their relationships with brands. This creates a formidable challenge for companies seeking to maintain trust and loyalty with their customers, especially in the insurance industry. Hear Piers Watson, Head of Customer Experience at NFU Mutual, discuss how this hurdle can be overcome, with unmissable perspectives on customer relationships and how to do things right before doing the right thing. Connect with Piers - https://www.linkedin.com/in/piers-watson-a6862b1/  Join our community - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cx-insider/ 

Rhodri Davies sy'n sgwrsio gydag Aled Griffiths, Asiant ac Ysgrifennydd Grŵp NFU Mutual.

As drought is declared across several parts of England, fires have been breaking out on arable farms where the harvest is well underway. Farm insurer NFU Mutual says so far this month it's already received more than 150 reports. We speak to some affected farmers - including one who says she could not call 999 when she first spotted a fire because there was no signal on her mobile phone. The hot weather is also a challenge for livestock farmers - who need to keep animals cool and fed when grass is parched. The British Poultry Council says the extreme temperatures have "led to very high mortality events in some poultry flocks". The campaign group Compassion in World Farming is warning farmers to take extra measures to protect livestock, and is calling on the Government to suspend journeys for farmed animals unless absolutely necessary. And away from worries about the hot dry weather, it's full steam ahead for farm and country shows at the moment. Caz Graham visits the 118th Vale of Rydal Sheepdog Trials & Hound in the heart of the Lake District to see what was happening there. Presented by Caz Graham Produced in Bristol by Natalie Donovan

With tinder-dry conditions in many parts of country, fires in farm machinery are at record levels. The insurer NFU Mutual is recording two a day on average - which means that numbers are up by 35%. We hear from a farmer in Buckinghamshire who experienced a combine harvester fire first-hand this week. Caz Graham asks the Farm Safety Foundation what farmers can do to reduce the risk of a blaze. As temperatures rise and our climate changes, experts are warning that the way we grow our food will have to change too. We visit the Allerton Project - a demonstration farm in Leicestershire, where they're researching what that might look like. Continuing a week-long look at this year's harvest, we're out in Lincolnshire with the pea viners. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Emma Campbell

The British Growers' Association, which represents the horticulture and fresh produce industries, is warning of a potential crisis in the sector, as input costs spiral and the price they are paid is kept stubbornly low. They've just carried out research into carrot and broccoli production and say unless farmers get paid more for their veg, they'll be forced to stop growing it. As the drought continues in parts of the UK, some farmers are keeping a close eye on their valuable irrigation systems. They're fast becoming a target for thieves - joining other farm essentials like quad bikes, diesel, GPS systems and machinery parts. This year's report by the rural insurer NFU Mutual, published this week, says the cost of rural crime is now back up to pre-pandemic levels. We join one farmer in Cambridgeshire who regularly patrols his fields. All week we've been looking at the issues facing tenant farmers. Today we meet a couple who - despite multiple applications - have had no luck finding a new tenancy. They currently rent a farm but the landlord has decided to sell. Gooseberries are often seen as a rather old-fashioned fruit, but they do make good pies! And if you want to find the best gooseberries, Egton Bridge near Whitby is the place to be this week. It's the home to the UK's oldest gooseberry show which has taken place in the first week in August for 222 years. It attracts gooseberry fans from across the UK. The presenter is Caz Graham.

Twins who doused themselves in petrol on an Esso forecourt in Canterbury have been jailed. A court's been told how Brittany and Bethany Lee tried to ignite a lighter during a stand off with police. Hear from our reporter Sean Axtell who was in court to hear the case. Also on today's podcast, people moving to new homes planned for part of Medway could be banned from having cats in a bid to try and protect wildlife. 68 properties are due to be built off Cliffe Woods, not far from an important nature reserve and Nightingale habitat. Hear from a councillor and people living nearby. Kent is still one of the worst-affected areas in the country when it comes to rural crime according to new figures. The theft of things like quad bikes, trailers, and Land Rovers from farms cost the county nearly £1.4million last year. We've got reaction from NFU Mutual and a farmer from Dartford. There's some confusion today after a large restaurant in Maidstone suddenly closed. Madisons on Gabriel's Hill shut without warning and people who had meal's booked up until Christmas have had their deposits returned. We bring you the details we know so far.

Joining us on the show this week is Brian Duffin OBE, former Chief Executive of Scottish Life. He is currently Chairman of the GEC Pension Scheme,the Aviva With Profits Committee, the Church of Scotland Investments Trust and he is also a NED for NFU Mutual as well as other insurance companies and pension funds. Brian discusses with Nick the achievement he is most proud of during his time as Chief Executive at Scottish Life and shares how Insurance Business Leaders can transition from Executive to NED roles. His advice to executives seeking to move into NED roles is "make an honest appraisal of what you are good at and what you are not good at" before deciding which appointments and companies would be a good fit for you. Brian believes that planning ahead is one key to his success and he invites listeners to reach out to via his linkedin page https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-duffin-a462293/ for advice or any NED opportunities. This episode is hosted by Nick Hoadley, CEO of Insurance Search the international executive search consultancy for the Insurance and Insurtech sectors. If you would like to contact Nick about the podcast or to discuss executive search assignments, please reach out via linkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-hoadley-78a498143/ , go to our website http://www.insurance-search.com (www.insurance-search.com) or email directly at info@insurance-search.com .