Edgar Balfour, Board Member

Edgar Balfour is a member of the DYW Orkney Regional Group Board and is the Orkney Food and Drink and Orkney Crafts Project Manager. 

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“After eight years in the motor industry and then the agriculture sector, in 1985 I started my career in the food industry. I was initially employed as Depot Manager of Orkney Meat which was at that time had majority control based outwith the islands. After less than a year, in 1986 I became General Manager after a successful local buyout of the business. I spent the next 23 years promoting and selling prime Orkney Beef and Lamb throughout the UK – ultimately under the successful brand ‘Orkney Island Gold’. By the time I left, Orkney Meat Ltd employed over 30 members of staff and had a turnover in excess of £6million per annum.

“In 2008 I left Orkney Meat and had a short period (five years) of employment with the Crown Post Office before applying for, and successfully awarded, the role of Development Officer with Orkney Food & Drink Limited.  I have been employed in this, or a similar role, from then to date.”

Why did you become involved with DYW Orkney?

“My interest in DYW Orkney is two-fold. Firstly, on a personal level, whilst with Orkney Meat, I was very aware of the issue of getting young people in Orkney to consider a career in the food sector in a positive way – and tried to change some preconceptions held at that time. Secondly, in my current role I frequently hear from the membership, about difficulties of recruitment within the sector, which sadly shows that perhaps little lasting progress has been made since my time at OML.  I would therefore like to help link up my members with the future workforce in these islands in a positive and practical way.”