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INFORM - THE CIREN SOCIETY PAGES
1990s
Stacey Mutkin
1995 MSc Business Studies for the
Food and Drink Industries
Having thoroughly enjoyed my time at Cirencester,
I started working as Marketing Director for our
family business, Knight’s Cider. At that time, we
were at the height of production, producing over
three million gallons for own label supermarket
brands, the Royal Duchy organic cider, and our
own brands Malvern Oak and Malvern Gold.
I married my fiancé Laurence in 1998, the
ceremony was held in the orchards – thankfully
the blossom held, and the wedding toast was
with cider. I found myself travelling between the
farm and London, and it soon became clear that
it wasn’t an ideal lifestyle. It was with regret that I
decided to stop working for the family business.
I returned to my earlier passion of photography. I
started up my own business, photographing artists,
writers and many, many children! I became an
Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and
in 2000 won the BIPP Press and PR award.
That year we had our first son Max, soon followed
by Hugo. I continued doing the photography
and bringing up the boys. Wishing to have a
garden for them, we moved from Westbourne
Grove over to Little Venice, where we still live.
Three years ago I also became involved in a textiles
company, Cosi, selling hand woven cashmere,
alpaca and yak scarves, and blankets. The fibres
were sourced in Mongolia and woven in Nepal for
clients such as Bamfords and Browns. Although
these businesses seem a long way from an MSc
in the Food and Drink Industries, the experience
at Cirencester has proven invaluable.
I’m in contact with Victoria Ellis neé Birdwood and
Gerald Theis, but would love to catch up with old
fellow students at the alumni dinner this September.
2000s
Linzie Maycock
2004 BSc (Hons) International
Equine and Agricultural Business
Management
After completing my course I gained a job at Fearing
International, where I was liaising with the ministry
and issuing sheep and cattle ear tags. I left Fearing
after eight months when I gained a job at the NFU
Mutual in Market Harborough. I quickly worked my
way up within the office and became a self-employed
appointed representative, specialising in estate and
rural insurance. I also help clients manage their
health and safety, and introduce financial services.
The degree I studied has helped me enormously
in terms of the RAU status, and the grounding
I received in equine and agriculture, including
the business elements. Without this, I’m sure
I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today.
I loved my time at the RAU and was an avid member
of the polo team amongst other things. I left the Royal
Ag with a fantastic qualification, having made some
great friends and contacts, and wonderful memories.
2010s
Syed Shah
2015 MBA Business Management
in the Food Industries
Prior to joining the RAU, I spent 20 years in the
customer service and sales industries, and completed
my law degree pre internet. For me, 2015 was life
changing. I graduated with distinction in my MBA
Business Management in the Food Industries, and
then, after an application process spanning over a
year, I joined the Metropolitan Police Service as a
front line police officer for the Road Transport Policing
Command in conjunction with Transport for London.
Having settled into my exciting and challenging
new role, I’m looking to build on my experiences
sitting on the RAU’s Inclusivity, Equality and Diversity
committee and Academic Board, and fully utilise
my MBA within the MET. To complement this, I’m
already looking at a part-time doctorate (hopefully
at the RAU). A big thank you to the wonderful people
I’ve met and worked with at the University, my
future looks bright and interesting to say the least!
Syed Shah
Linzie Maycock
1980s
Paul Temple
1981 NDA
On leaving the RAC I joined the farming business,
building the business up and adapting to the flow of
the various CAP reforms, which at this point now has
the farm heavily focused on environmental schemes.
Wheat and barley is grown for seed, potatoes, oilseed
rape, forage maize, and vining peas. We’re members of
Swaythorpe Growers Ltd, now producing it’s own high
quality branded Yorkshire pea pack. Suckler beef are an
intrinsic part of environmental scheme management.
Fascinated by agricultural science and being fortunate
in travelling widely has given me a global insight into
farming, markets, and politics across the world. This
has enabled me to set up a group for EU farmers with
a biotech interest, chair an EU farming organisation
crop group, and hold the office of NFU Vice President.
In April 2015, I joined the Agriculture and Horticulture
Development Board’s (AHDB) main board as the
Chair of the Cereals and Oilseeds Sector, recently
re-branded from what was the HGCA.
It’s a particularly exciting time to be part of a rapidly
changing organisation as the various levy sectors work
closer together in new and innovative ways. Making
sense of sustainability and all that it can mean, is one
of my driving challenges. I see the AHDB as a people
organisation determined to work in smarter ways for
the benefit of all levy payers across the industry.
I’m constantly reminded of a past RAC lecturer’s wise
words, ‘Education is about knowing what questions
to ask and where to find the answer’. This seems to
neatly encapsulate what the AHDB needs to do in a
fast changing world and it’s fantastic to be part of it.
Stacey Mutkin
Paul Temple