We welcome the open dialogue at the ongoing town hall meetings and we’re delighted that levy payers have taken the time to join these. We are finding, as ever, in our various conversations with growers that there are divided views on the levy and the work programmes funded by it and many of those that are telling us they want a levy to continue also want to see greater reform at AHDB.
It’s important to be very clear that AHDB is not promoting either a YES or a NO vote.
Our duty is to ensure levy payers know a ballot is taking place, understand the binary nature of the ballot question and what a Yes and a No vote would mean, understand how their levy is spent so they can make an informed choice, and also to encourage as many as possible to exercise their right to vote.
Unfortunately, we have also needed to correct some inaccurate information communicated to growers about the ability to vote in in future ballots.
Our recent research across our sectors has confirmed that levy payers wish to receive information presented across a variety of channels to meet their decision-making needs – including print, digital, face-to-face, trade press, post and email. The research also told us that a multi-channel approach is the most effective way of engaging with everyone. This is the approach we have put into practice through letters, website information, printed material, trade press briefing and advertorials and town hall meetings.
It is very important that we correct some of the wild statements out there in regard to the costs related to the ballot. In all, including the services of the independent ballot company, UK Engage, we expect the total external costs for running both the horticulture and potato ballots to come in at just under £60,000, which works out at approximately £16 per levy payer voter.
These are ballots in order to inform Ministers how the industry feels on the value of a statutory levy to assist Ministers to then make a decision on the future.
Levy payers can find why the ballots are taking place and more details about how their levy is spent at ahdb.org.uk
GUY ATTENBOROUGH
AHDB Ballot Officer
It’s important to be very clear that AHDB is not promoting either a YES or a NO vote.
Our duty is to ensure levy payers know a ballot is taking place, understand the binary nature of the ballot question and what a Yes and a No vote would mean, understand how their levy is spent so they can make an informed choice, and also to encourage as many as possible to exercise their right to vote.
Unfortunately, we have also needed to correct some inaccurate information communicated to growers about the ability to vote in in future ballots.
Our recent research across our sectors has confirmed that levy payers wish to receive information presented across a variety of channels to meet their decision-making needs – including print, digital, face-to-face, trade press, post and email. The research also told us that a multi-channel approach is the most effective way of engaging with everyone. This is the approach we have put into practice through letters, website information, printed material, trade press briefing and advertorials and town hall meetings.
It is very important that we correct some of the wild statements out there in regard to the costs related to the ballot. In all, including the services of the independent ballot company, UK Engage, we expect the total external costs for running both the horticulture and potato ballots to come in at just under £60,000, which works out at approximately £16 per levy payer voter.
These are ballots in order to inform Ministers how the industry feels on the value of a statutory levy to assist Ministers to then make a decision on the future.
Levy payers can find why the ballots are taking place and more details about how their levy is spent at ahdb.org.uk
GUY ATTENBOROUGH
AHDB Ballot Officer