Newly-elected NFU President Peter Kendall and NFU Mutual chief executive Ian Geden will be the guests of honour at the opening of the new NFU/NFU Mutual offices in Stratford upon Avon.
The event takes place at 12.30pm on Monday March 20 at the new offices at 15A Goldicote Business Park, Banbury Road, Stratford upon Avon.
Edward Wheaton, senior group secretary for the Stratford NFU branch and NFU Mutual insurance agency, said the new office was set in a rural location three miles from Stratford town centre.
"To continue the work for the NFU and to accommodate the growth of the insurance agency business, a strategic move had to be made," said Mr Wheaton.
"With the new office, we have the space, accessibility and parking that we could not have provided in a town centre location.
"We now have a large, modern office, specially built for us by Goldicote Business Park proprietor Tony Brooker, and it has everything we need including open plan offices and a large meeting area for training sessions and seminars.
"Requirements of a modern office are so demanding that to have the full specification ready for use is a positive advantage for us and we are raring to go with a busy schedule ahead for 2006.
"Stratford upon Avon branch is an active group and we hope to be able to use the meeting area for more ad hoc and focussed meetings for our farmer and grower membership to enable them to keep in touch with the challenges of the industry.
"We are delighted that Peter Kendall and Ian Geden are coming to the opening ceremony as this will bring special recognition to the project, which has been all consuming for perhaps two years of the planning stage.
"Clive Handy and myself have been in partnership as agents and group secretaries for some 15 years now and this move is something that we have worked toward for ourselves, our employees and of course our many local members and customers.
"We hope that with the beneficial access and parking spaces, our rural clients will be able to drop in and visit the office more easily and that it will continue and develop as a resource for the local farming community."
Other invited guests/customers at the opening ceremony include key NFU and NFU Mutual personnel who play a support role with the Wheaton and Handy office.
The office employs nine staff and was awarded Investor In People status in January 2006. Stratford NFU's current branch chairman is William James, of Whitchurch Farm, Whitchurch, Stratford upon Avon.
At 7.30pm on March 20, NFU President Peter Kendall will also address a meeting of Warwickshire farmers from Stratford upon Avon, Henley and Alcester and South Warwickshire branches at Stratford Cattle Market. Those wishing to attend should book their place with the Stratford office on 01789 740751.
