Farming News - IWD: Hear from some of the women shaping the British berry industry
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IWD: Hear from some of the women shaping the British berry industry
Growing together: Meet some of the women shaping the future of Britain's berry industry
This International Women's Day, the theme is 'Give to Gain' which, in essence, encourages women to invest in the success of others, as well as themselves, to ensure the collective advancement of women.
And this resonates with the message from the women of Britain's berry industry: speak up, take your seat at the table, and bring others with you.
From growers to board members, the berry industry and farming more widely has traditionally been a male dominated space.
But conversations with women working across the sector today reveal a different picture; it's one of evolving leadership, expanding opportunities and collective progress.
Isla Haslam, Marketing Manager UK at Driscoll's, says despite agriculture's image of being predominantly male, she hasn't faced overt barriers as a woman in the field. Instead, the greatest challenge has been internal. "It's about having the confidence to truly believe in your value and not let being a woman in a male-dominated environment hold you back," she says. "You bring perspective. You bring ideas. You bring leadership. That has value."
Jill Witheyman, Head of Marketing at Angus Soft Fruits, says she has felt that pressure in the past, but agrees that a lot of the barriers can come from within. She says: "Agriculture can still be male-dominated in certain rooms, and earlier in my career I sometimes felt pressure to 'fit' a particular mould to be taken seriously.
"But what's helped me most is learning that the real strength is in authenticity - showing up as yourself, speaking in your own voice, and building trust through genuine relationships," she added. "When you're comfortable in who you are, your confidence lands differently, and people respond to that."
When it comes to overcoming some of the pressures of the male oriented industry, Bev Dixon, Group 3BL Director and MD Growing (UK and Portugal), Haygrove, agrees "the key is confidence and support. I would strongly recommend seeking out a mentor; there are many generous and experienced people willing to share their knowledge. Organisations such as Women in Food and Farming are an excellent source of encouragement".
While all believe the landscape is changing, they agree that more visibility about the breadth of opportunity within the industry is needed.
As Haslam puts it: "Horticulture isn't just farming. There are careers in marketing, HR, agronomy, commercial strategy, sustainability, science and innovation. The breadth of opportunity is hugely exciting, and we need to tell that story better."
That message of opportunity is echoed by Haslam's peers. As Viliana Ignateva, HR Manager at Hall Hunter, says, the changes in the industry are tangible.
"Absolutely," she says, when asked whether the industry is evolving. "I've seen a noticeable shift - more women in management, technical roles, operations, HR, quality and safety. Younger women entering the industry now expect equality rather than hope for it."
She adds: "Organisations are recognising that diversity isn't a 'nice to have'. It leads to better decision-making and stronger teams."
Ignateva sees women increasingly stepping into decision-making positions, from technical specialists to farm managers to senior leaders, and believes the next phase will see more women shaping sustainability strategies, leading research programmes and entering operational and engineering roles as barriers continue to fall.
Witheyman agrees that having more diverse teams will help the industry develop: "As more women join the industry, we'll see more diversity of thinking - and that's when innovation accelerates.
"The future will be less about women being 'the exception' and more about women being a normal, visible part of leadership, decision-making and technical expertise across the industry. That benefits everyone."
With this year's International Women's Day theme focused on collective progress, Haslam believes that connection is the best way to support women's development in the industry.
"Talk more. Connect more. Share experiences openly, both the wins and the challenges. There is so much collective wisdom across women in this sector. If we create more spaces to share and support one another, we'll all grow faster and stronger together."
Witheyman echoes this sentiment: "Give visibility. Give opportunity. Give confidence. Give time and support."
Ignateva adds: "Trust your instincts. Speak confidently - your perspective is valuable. And remember you belong in every room you walk into."
Dixon concludes: "Travel widely. Meet great people. Challenge yourself. Say yes to opportunities that stretch you. And make time to enjoy yourself. The relationships you build along the way are more important than the roles you hold".