Sentry Interview: “Witham deliver consistent quality with excellent technical back up.”

Sentry is an employee owned Agricultural and Rural Advisory Business, with over 50 years of trading experience and a footprint in over 15 counties.   Sentry farms over 20,000 hectares of land across the UK, operates a leading agricultural buying group and provides rural advisory services to farmers, landowners and investors across the UK, enabling them to run successful agricultural and rural businesses.

We were proud to catch up with Richard Peck, Senior Farm Business Adviser who kindly tells us more about this diverse and enterprising agricultural solutions business.

Sentry has a rich heritage, and was originally founded in 1972 by an American insurance company. Initially farming operations were on land owned by pension schemes and over time, this was extended to contract farming for private individuals.

In 1986, following the sudden death of the President of the American insurance Company, Sentry Farm Management (along with all the Company’s non-insurance activities worldwide) was put onto the market and a management buyout was undertaken aided by city equity houses and a merchant bank.

1990 saw the Company merge with Associated Farmers plc in a reverse takeover, and Sentry Farming Group plc began its journey from the third market, via the USM, to become the only farming Company with a full listing. However, it soon became obvious that the growth and profit expectations of a fully listed company were incompatible with a farming company, and in 1999 the plc divested itself of all its assets, with employees, customers and machinery transferring through a management buyout to Sentry Limited.

This management buyout was possible in 1999 as Sentry’s employees provided the total finance required in exchange for ‘A’ shares in the Company, which equates to 50% of the Company’s total share capital. The remaining 50% of the finance required was provided by three corporate partners in exchange for ‘B’ shares in the Company.

Due to employees owning 50% of the Company’s total share capital, Sentry has been able to operate as an Employee-Owned Company for the last 20 plus years. Employee Ownership promotes the quality of our teams on the ground and a long-term alignment of interests with our employees and clients.  This means employees voices are heard. The Sentry team work pro-actively and collectively to ensure that it is a great company to work for as well as providing opportunities that are rarely seen in other companies.

Sentry employs over 60 people in a variety of roles. This can vary seasonally, as the company upscale staffing on our farms and for our clients.

We have a wide range of clients, including farmers, landowners, investors and other professional partners operating within the agricultural and rural sector.

How has the business changed over last 10 years?

In the last decade, a new Managing Director and group of Directors has been appointed, and Sentry has welcomed a new generation of talent into the company.  As an employee-owned business, our engagement across the business has improved significantly.

Within the industry we have seen significant change, as the focus has shifted onto environmental and land stewardship.  We have been focusing our own farm strategy and working with our clients to optimise every part of the farm, as we prepare for subsidises to fade away.

We have significantly grown our farm advisory services over the last few years, which allows us to take the best-practice of our farming enterprises and share it with our clients. Working with farming and rural business across the country, supporting them, and enabling them to realise their business goals and ambitions has been hugely fulfilling, and we expect this side of the business to grown considerably in the forthcoming years.

What are you most proud of?

A passion for growing the business and providing the same opportunities for future generations, which we have been lucky enough to enjoy.

It’s our 50-year anniversary.  We’re very proud of coming from humble beginnings as an American insurance company, to today’s employee-owned business, farming ourselves, running a leading farm buying group and working with a brilliant range of suppliers, including Witham Oil.

What are your biggest challenges at the moment?

Conversely the many challenges across the world, has resulted in record commodity prices, which has been reflected in farming returns.  This increase in returns has been very positive for the industry, and has offset the impact of declining subsidies.

We are now adjusting to higher input and operational costs, against a back-drop of reducing subsidies and falling commodity values, which means the need for professional farm management has never been more important. Knowing and controlling costs is critical.

Who is your inspiration in business?

Caroline Drummond, who was the driving force behind the charity LEAF.  She was an inspirational leader and a passionate advocate of helping consumers better understand agriculture and its connection with their food Initiatives such as ‘Farmer-time’ which were set-up by LEAF, fortnightly calls between farmers and the classroom, bring the countryside to life providing invaluable education on agriculture and food production.

If you could do it all again, what would you do differently?

I would have gone back to the 1980’s and told Sentry Insurance CEO not to sell the land, as it would be worth a lot in the future – after all, they’re not making any more of it!

What has been your proudest moment?

The management buyout in 1999, when the whole team bought into the company and we became Employee-owned.

What are your plans for future?

Keep growing the business and focus on the legacy of the business. We are excited about the next phase within UK agriculture, where the need for healthy food and a healthy environment run side by side and we see our job as to deliver it.

We are positive, that despite the obvious headwinds, this remains a very exciting time to be in agriculture and we are always pleased to talk to landowners and farmers about joining our group of members and clients.

Our Vision:

“Together with our clients to be the leaders in our industry.”

Our Mission:

“In line with our values to continually innovate and develop the strength of our soils, farms, employees and businesses while safeguarding the environment.”

Our company values highlight what we strive to achieve:

PROFESSIONAL – We strive for excellence in everything we do.

CUSTODIAN – Our actions benefit you for the long term.

CARING – We work to get it right for you.

TRUST – We believe this creates a better working environment.

FORWARD THINKING – We challenge ourselves to shape the future.

Sentry and the Witham Group

Sentry has a long-standing relationship with the Witham Group, stretching back over three decades. Witham, as one of Sentry’s preferred suppliers, join some of the industry’s best that supply us with quality products and the reliability of service that we need.

Quality and backup are paramount when selecting suppliers, be that tractors, agrochemicals, oils or indeed any of the necessary requisites needed for the modern farming business.

Witham are able to deliver a complete package of lubricants to our farming teams across the UK. Witham deliver consistent quality with excellent technical back up. With the technical backup that Witham offer, the correct lubricants across our machinery fleet are selected and used, removing all issues on quality and warranty.

A challenging future lies ahead for British agriculture, Sentry is up to the task, Witham faces similar challenges and together we can make a difference in making businesses profitable and sustainable in the future.

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