The National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCO) has appointed Charles Bourns as its new chair.
Bourns has been elected following the retirement of the inaugural chair Michael Seals, who has been in the role for 20 years.
The NFSCO carries out the service of collection and disposal of fallen stock.
The company has also appointed Andrew Blenkiron as its new vice chair. He will have responsibility for banking.
Charles Bourns
NFSCO said Bourns is a well-known poultry farmer from Gloucestershire, who has had many political roles in the industry.
He joined NFSCO as a non-executive director in 2012 and he was given responsibility for the poultry sector.
In April 2020, he was appointed company secretary and in 2021 he took on the role of director with responsibility for information technology.
He oversaw the development and implementation of the company’s app for the fallen stock sector – KoLeCt.
Commenting on his appointment, Bourns said: “I am delighted to take up the reins from Michael at such an exciting time for NFSCO.
“Aside from my long-standing career as a poultry farmer I have also played a role for many years as leader of the poultry sector in the UK and also across the EU and wider world.
“That experience with UK and international governments and traders will, I am sure, assist me in my new role as chairman of NFSCO.
“The success of NFSCO over the years is largely down to Michael’s vision, drive and enthusiasm in setting up the company and in steering it through some very challenging times, and as I take over I would like to pay tribute to him and his service.”
Andrew Blenkiron
New vice chair Blenkiron has been a director of the 10,500ac Euston Estate in west Suffolk since 2011.
NFSCO said site has “widespread livestock interests” but is shortly moving to manage the 22,500ac neighbouring Elveden Estate.
Blenkiron has also recently been the chair of the Suffolk branch of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
KoLeCt
NFSCO’s KoLeCt app has recently hit a new milestone – almost 50% of collection jobs transacted through the company are happening via the web portal.
The app aims to allow farmers to book collection of fallen stock at any time and to track them in real time.
It also facilitates the recording of tag numbers that appear on the invoice. The collection history stays on the app for three months.
NFSCO said the uptake of the app is also expected to receive a significant boost as it is being hosted on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
