Farmers Weekly Awards 2015: Farm Employer of the Year

David, Brian and Philip Metcalfe

Metcalfe Farms, Leyburn,
North Yorkshire

The camaraderie that brothers David, Brian and Philip Metcalfe enjoy is evident in the 43 full-time farming staff that work on this multimillion pound arable, contracting, sheep, dairy, anaerobic digestion (AD) haulage and commercial/car repair business.

Each of the three brothers has their own business unit; the eldest, David, is the “financial director” for the whole company but also has direct responsibility for the 700ha of arable and forage including a new AD plant; Brian manages the 900 head of sheep, contracting and haulage businesses and Philip is responsible for the 900-cow dairy unit and followers.

“We try to make everyone feel part of the business,” says David. This openness fosters ideas from the team. One pass round baling and wrapping is now a significant new development in their contracting operations thanks to tractor driver/shepherd Simon Kirby.

See all the winners and pictures from the night on our Farmers Weekly Awards page.

Gerard came to the farm from Ireland for two weeks and is still there 14 months later:

“I was made to feel part of the family when I arrived and I just enjoy the people, as well as the work,” he says.

Flexibility is crucial in recruiting new staff, explains David: “Although we employ people for a specific role, we make it clear that they will have to work in other areas such as lambing at certain times of the year.”

There are staff opportunities as the business has expanded: “Several employees have developed from milkers to sub-managers and basic tractors drivers into specialist machine operators,” he says.

There’s a waiting list of people wanting to work at Metcalfe Farms, who are now the largest employer in the area.

It wasn’t always like that explains Philip: “We struggled to find good people for the dairy five years ago, but now many of the milkers come from local villages with no farming background.

“We train them to our own protocols, so they develop with us.”

Ten out of the 20 milking staff on this Holstein pedigree unit are women. The teams in all the individual units meet regularly.

Mastitis and lameness scores are on display so everyone can see the impact of what they are doing on herd health

A purpose-built training room is used for staff training and third parties. They host many open days and farm walks and have been shortlisted for the RABDF Gold Cup.

The dairy is central to Metcalfe Farms and its future.

It is undergoing a major expansion from a 32:32 rapid exit parlour to a 72-point rotary parlour. They have chosen to expand the cows to 1,300 to maximise their investment in people.

Every new business ventures delivers synergies as well as revenues to the core farm.

Finalists

David Knott

Trumpington Farming Estate, Cambridgeshire

Strong staff loyalty is at the heart of this 3,200ha combinable cropping operation with five out the 15-man team recently receiving long-service awards.

Professionalism and precision mark out the way he delivers impressive staff commitment and crop production.

Robert Smith

Russell Smith Farms, Cambridgeshire

Casual workers return year on year to work on this 1,000ha potato, sugar beet and organic combinable crop business.

A loyal band of 20 migrant workers and seven full-time staff support Robert and his manager to deliver the highest standards.

Sponsor’s message

“David Metcalfe and his brothers demonstrated outstanding commitment to their team and that was clearly based on a shared and deep understanding of the team’s needs and aspirations.”

Oliver Dale, managing director