Land Managers Training Day 2022

Time: 10.00am to 3.30pm

Venue: Perth Racecourse, Perth PH2 6BG

AGENDA

09.30-10.00	Registration and Refreshments
10.00-10.10	Welcome and introduction, Stephen Young, Head of Policy, Scottish Land & Estates
10.10-10.30	Diversifying your land - the market trends and growth areas in tourism, leisure and events, Adam Davies, Tourism, Leisure and Events Consultant, Savills Adam will focus on key ways of diversifying your land and will touch on the real areas of growth within the tourism and leisure markets, highlighting the key market trends which every business should be aware of. He will also discuss the future of staycations - boom or bust?
10.30-10.50	Electronic Communications Code, Scott Logan, Legal Director Brodies LLP  Scott Logan, Legal Director, Brodies LLP will provide an update on the Electronic Communications Code covering network operators' powers in relation to new sites and the renewal of existing sites; negotiating terms of agreements; termination and removal procedures; recent caselaw developments and proposed further reforms of the Code.
10.50-11.10	Questions & Answers
11.10-11.30	Refreshments
11.30-11.50	Woodland Carbon Code – Practical Guide  – Vicky West, Woodland Carbon Code Manager, Scottish Forestry. Vicky will provide an overview of the opportunities for land owners to get involved in the rapidly growing carbon market in the UK.  This will include a guide to the woodland carbon market via the Woodland Carbon Code as well as opportunities via the Peatland Code, and a forward look at potential markets for carbon in other land uses/habitats.
11.50-12.10	Future of Agricultural Funding – Paul Richardson, Policy Adviser, Agriculture & Climate Change, Scottish Land & Estates Paul will provide an update on post-Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) development in Scotland. This will include existing funding schemes, the National Test Programme, and wider work of the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), as well as looking forward to the Agriculture Bill.
12.10-12.30	Questions & Answers
12.30-13.30	Lunch
13.40	All four workshops will run twice at 13.35 to 14.10 and then again at 14.15 to 15.00, enabling attendees to attend two workshops each.  Please select which 2 workshops you would like to attend.  Each workshop will be in a different breakout room.
13.40-14.10	Workshops Session 1 Community Engagement in the Context of Land Reform – Kenneth Munn, Director, Rural Management Scotland & Philip Graham, Associate Director, Planning Scotland, Savills.   Aware of policy direction, and feeling increasing social pressure on rural land, this workshop hosted by Kenny and Philip from Savills, discusses how community engagement, in the context of land and planning policy reform, can help people gain greater insight into the perspectives of their local communities, with the aim of achieving a successful working relationship in relation to land management operations and business aims.” Short-term Lets Regulations Update – Fiona Campbell, Chief Executive, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers   Fiona will give you an update on STL Licensing - the guidance, mandatory requirements and threats, etc. Tenants & Trees what are the current rules? – Graeme Leith, Managing Associate, Brodies LLP   Trees and Tenancies: As the opportunities increase for tree planting and natural capital projects Graeme Leith, partner in the Rural Business team at Brodies, will lead a discussion on facilitating such projects within a lease structure, and the issues and opportunities for landlords and tenants to be aware of Nature Recovery Fund - Katherine Leys, NatureScot
14.15-14.45	Workshops Session 2 Community Engagement in the Context of Land Reform – Kenneth Munn, Director, Rural Management Scotland & Philip Graham, Associate Director, Planning Scotland, Savills Short-term Lets Regulations Update – Fiona Campbell, Chief Executive, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers  STL Licensing - the guidance, mandatory requirements, threats Tenants & Trees what are the current rules? – Graeme Leith, Managing Associate, Brodies LLP    Trees and Tenancies: As the opportunities increase for tree planting and natural capital projects Graeme Leith, partner in the Rural Business team at Brodies, will lead a discussion on facilitating such projects within a lease structure, and the issues and opportunities for landlords and tenants to be aware of. Nature Recovery Fund - Katherine Leys, NatureScot
15.00-15.30	Expert Panel Session Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive, Scottish Land & Estates Hugo Struthers, Head of Rural Scotland, Savills Kate McLeish, Partner, Brodies LLP
15.30	Close

 

Meet our Speakers:

Stephen Young, Head of Policy, Scottish Land & Estates

Stephen Young joined SLE in August 2019 from the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), where he was project manager. In his new role, Stephen is responsible for managing SLE’s policy team at its Musselburgh HQ, as well as leading development of SLE’s policy positions and guiding the provision of member advice. Stephen studied Rural Business Management at Aberdeen University and went on to work in an assistant manager’s role at the Borders Machinery Ring, dealing with member requests and purchasing farm inputs on their behalf.

Adam Davies, Tourism, Leisure and Events Consultant, Savills

Adam is a consultant specialising in tourism, leisure and events and has over 10+ years of operational and professional experience operating across the country. Adam provides strategic and operational advice to owners and managers of historic houses, rural estates, farms and leisure-based businesses on establishing new, or developing existing tourism, leisure and events enterprises. He has significant experience in working with Scotland’s most prestigious venues and has demonstratable success in providing strategic advice and hands on operational support to Scotland’s leading estates.

Scott Logan, Legal Director, Brodies LLP

Scott is a Legal Director in the Rural Business team at Brodies.   Scott specialises in compulsory purchase, telecoms and utilities work and regularly advises estates, farms and other rural businesses in relation to compulsory purchase orders and compensation; telecommunications leases and wayleaves, including advice on the Electronic Communications Code; and electricity, gas, sewage and water infrastructure, including servitudes, wayleaves and related compensation.

He has an in-depth knowledge of the Electronic Communications Code and frequently advises landowners and businesses who have been approached by telecoms operators for mast site leases, lease renewals, servitudes, wayleaves and similar, helping them protect their interests and secure the best outcomes.

 

Vicky West, Woodland Carbon Code Manager, Scottish Forestry

For the last 12 years, Vicky has overseen the management and development of the Woodland Carbon Code programme across the UK. She is also an Executive Board member of the UK’s Peatland Code, and is involved in various other initiatives to ensure the credibility and functionality of the developing carbon market.  She has worked for over 20 years with Forestry Commission and more recently Scottish Forestry, in areas of forestry policy and climate change, after completing a PhD in modelling global climate change.

Paul Richardson, SLE Policy Adviser, Agriculture & Climate Change

Paul joined Scottish Land and Estates in July 2021. Growing up in Northumberland, Paul was first introduced to agriculture by his late grandfather, before choosing to pursue a career as a British Army Officer. On leaving regular service and settling with his wife in the Scottish Borders, he has gained experience working in investment management, land agency and practical farming. Paul will consolidate this experience in his role as the lead for Scottish Land and Estates day to day work on agriculture and climate change.

Kenneth Munn, Director, Rural Management, Scotland Savills

With over 20 years’ experience, Kenneth leads the land management consultancy across the central belt of Scotland and works closely with private and public sectors. He is also a specialist in telecoms, compulsory purchase and outsourcing across the UK.

 

Fiona Campbell,Chief Executive, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Fiona Campbell was appointed as the ASSC’s first Chief Executive in February 2015. She was charged with growing the Association, recruiting new members, and ensuring that member benefits are as comprehensive and valuable as possible, supporting the sector and working with other organisations to support the wider tourism sector in Scotland.  Founded in 1978, the ASSC are the leading source of knowledge on short-term letting and holiday homes in Scotland and are the only trade body representing the interests of the traditional self-catering sector. Fiona works with key industry groups and stakeholders to support the representation that puts the ASSC at the forefront of the Scottish Tourism industry.

 

Philip Graham, Associate Director, Planning, Scotland Savills

Based from our Edinburgh office, Philip is a planner whose main focus is delivery of major mixed use development sites, identification and promotion of strategic land, and rural planning matters such as housing in the countryside projects. He currently works with landowner clients on developing their planning and engagement strategies and has led on these community engagement strategies and events to promote specific sites and development plans.

 

Graeme Leith, Partner, Brodies LLP

Graeme Leith is a regular media commentator on matters relating to the forestry industry and has more than 10 years’ experience acting for forestry investors on some of the largest forest acquisitions and disposals throughout that period. Graeme regularly advises on high value mixed class investments including timber asset and renewable energy. He is increasingly involved in advising investors and landowners on the sale and purchase of land for tree planting and related issues, a sector that has seen enormous growth in recent years as a consequence of Scottish Government planting targets and climate change policy. Graeme is well-versed on the woodland carbon code and has experience of drafting and negotiating bespoke agreements to assist clients operating in this exciting new sector. Graeme is principal legal adviser to the country’s leading forest management and advisory company.

Graeme advises rural landowners on a wide range of transactions and has significant expertise in the negotiation of residential and mixed-use development option agreements. Graeme also acts for rural landowners in connection with renewable energy development, mast site leases and the purchase, sale and lease of land and property, including landed estates and farming enterprises.

Dr Katherine Leys, Head of Biodiversity and Geodiversity, NatureScot

Dr Katherine Leys is Head of Biodiversity and Geodiversity at NatureScot and manages a team of 45 species and habitat specialists in areas as diverse as rocks, birds, fish, mammals, wetlands, air pollution and conservation policy.  A fluvial geomorphologist by profession (river processes) she has had roles in earth sciences, freshwater and in overseeing NatureScot’s local delivery across the South East of Scotland before moving to this role.  She managed the Biodiversity Challenge Fund for its 3 year duration before taking on the challenge of setting up the Nature Restoration Fund.   

 

Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive, Scottish Land & Estates

Sarah-Jane was appointed as Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) in December 2019, the first woman to hold this role in the organisation’s 110-year history.  Her role involves overseeing the policy work of the organisation, directing all external and internal communications and leading on lobbying and representational work alongside senior management responsibilities relating to the organisation.  Sarah-Jane represents SLE on a large number of external stakeholder groups, she is a member of the Scottish Government's Women in Agriculture Taskforce and the Climate Change Emergency Response Group as well as a recipient of the Farmers Club Windsor Leadership bursary.

Hugo Struthers, Head of Rural – Scotland

Hugo is Head of Rural in Scotland and has over 20 years of property management and professional experience across the UK. In particular he has most recently specialised in providing expert witness services to assist in property dispute resolution, capital taxation, compulsory purchase and valuations throughout Scotland.

 

Kate McLeish, Partner, Brodies LLP

Kate acts for landed estates, farmers and agri-businesses across Scotland and deals with a wide range of rural property matters, including land sales and acquisitions, leases, fishings and sportings and complex voluntary registrations.

 

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