Alice Willett Green
For me, agriculture represents a story of teenage rebellion. Raised in a farming family, I was actively encouraged to pursue a different career. Skirting the line by studying Animal Science and starting my career in livestock consultancy with ADAS, I then moved to McDonald’s UK & Ireland, and later to a global role focused on digital transformation. Yet, despite this detour, I found myself drawn back to the land and British Agriculture.
In 2020, while completing the Worshipful Company of Farmers’ Challenge of Rural Leadership course, I met a farmer whose values and vision aligned with mine. That meeting sparked a professional partnership, a board position. Today, I lead on strategy and capital planning, helping to shape the long-term resilience and growth of the business.
This experience has given me a deep sense of purpose: supporting farming businesses to thrive beyond traditional family succession. I’m passionate about creating pathways for the next generation of agricultural leaders, fostering inclusive opportunities, and helping farms build sustainable futures. My journey has shown me that farming isn’t just about heritage it’s about vision, collaboration, and the courage to do things differently.
New Roots: Designing and Delivering Effective Non-family Succession Pathways
Worshipful Company of Farmers
Savills UK
Study Overview
Succession is one of the most pressing challenges in UK agriculture, yet it’s often framed solely around family inheritance. With an ageing farming population and limited entry routes for skilled individuals without family ties, many viable businesses risk fragmentation or closure.
My study will explore how non-family succession can offer a credible, structured alternative. One that preserves farm independence, productivity, and legacy. Drawing on my own experience, I’ll examine how trust, governance, and shared purpose can underpin successful transitions.
Through international visits, I’ll investigate models where non-family succession is more established from New Zealand’s share-farming to Canada’s collaborative succession planning. I’ll explore the legal frameworks, financial mechanisms, and cultural attitudes that support these approaches, assessing their potential for adaptation in the UK context.
Ultimately, my Nuffield study aims to reframe succession as an opportunity for renewal rather than an endpoint. By showcasing alternative pathways, I hope to inspire farm owners and aspiring successors to embrace new models of leadership and continuity, ensuring that British agriculture remains resilient, innovative, and open to talent.