Episode 74

TWO INTO ONE with Ruth Bailey

A year after the eye-catching acquisition of the British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA), the dealer trade association by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), representing manufacturers, distributors and suppliers, CEO Ruth Bailey tells Chris about the behind-the-scenes integration during the past 12 months.

Although AEA and BAGMA are still two separate organisations, operating under the same roof, Ruth hints that ‘nothing is off the table’ regarding the future shape and identity of the combined associations

"We are in an absolutely great position now, and are ready to move forward" she says

In a wide-ranging chat, we covered:

(01:38) Sorting the initial priorities

(13:35) Reflections on post-Covid era

(15:24) The value of dealerships

(17:09) Industry consolidation

(19:10) Pressing issues

(22:28) Recruitment and awareness of our industry

Episode is 28 minutes

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About the Podcast

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INSIDE AGRI-TURF
The farm and grass machinery business

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About your host

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Chris Biddle

Chris is an experienced journalist specialising in the farm and grass machinery market. He has worked for a major tractor manufacturer and been a managing director of a farm and grass machinery dealership in the West Country.
In 1988, he launched trade magazine, Service Dealer followed by TurfPro in 1998, selling both titles to Land Power Publications in 2015.
He was editor of Landwards, the professional journal of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) from 2008 until 2019 and is the recipient of the 2020 IAgrE Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Land-Based industry.
Chris lives in Salisbury with his wife Trish, and is an avid cricket fan and member of the MCC for over 55 years.