Guild member Nick Rainsley describes how he sailed from a career in agronomy to life as head of marketing for crop production specialists Hutchinsons – with some seaweed-sorting and horse racing thrown in along the way.
Describe your job in a sentence
I am responsible for Hutchinsons and its subsidiary brands in relation to image, promotion, press, PR, communication and events, both externally and internally.
How did you get to where you are today?
I started life as an agronomist which has given me a great foundation in what we do and what we are about. Since then, I have never turned down an opportunity to try something new or face a different challenge.
Describe an average working day for you
The beauty of this job is there is no average working day as there are multiple projects at multiple stages – from strategic planning, staff & customer visits, press meetings, shows, events, internal meetings, artwork & literature and wider industry meetings and events all over the country.
What’s the strangest place your job has taken you?
No single place stands out but a few come to mind – On a boat passing through the Corryvreckan whirlpool, down a mine, on a small island on the Mississippi, watching seaweed being sorted, awarding a race winner at Windsor races and countless other places that seem normal at the time till you reflect on them.
What’s the best thing about working in agriculture?
The people and their passions – for the countryside, for their crops, produce and way of life and for their care of their livestock.
What gets you through a tough day?
Knowing tomorrow will be a different day with different challenges and rewards.
What’s the weirdest thing on your desk?
A Lumie lamp that mimics daylight to give me energy (I don’t use it much though!)
If you had to write about something other than farming, what would it be?
For me, being involved in sailing is an important part of my life and I have a passion for the coast and the sea.
How do you unwind?
I’m not someone that unwinds easily, so walking the dog helps clear my head, but my re-boot comes from spending the weekend on a boat and sailing somewhere.
Nick in a minute:
How do you take your coffee? I don’t! I drink builders’ tea.
What was the first album you bought? ELO, Out of the Blue.
What website can you easily waste an hour on? Twitter wastes time very well!
What one thing are you better at than anyone else? I don’t believe I am better than anyone else, and I like to find the skills that other have to compliment my skill and knowledge gaps.
What’s your go-to chocolate in a tub of Quality Streets? Orange crunch!
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