THERE is to be a change of face in the sales ring at Craven Cattle Marts as auctioneer Sam Bradley prepares to take up a new position as a farm insurance specialist with the Craven Group of the NFU Mutual.

But he won’t be moving far. Like CCM, the NFU Mutual office is based at Skipton Auction Mart.

And both companies are working closely together to ensure a seamless transition by mutual agreement, which could well cover the duration of the mart’s peak autumn show and sale season.

Sam, who hails from a farming background, joined Craven Cattle Marts back in 2012 as a trainee auctioneer.

He had earlier graduated with a BSc Honours degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management from Harper Adams University College, in Shropshire.

As junior auctioneer at Skipton and of late in a more senior auctioneering role, Sam has conducted both dairy and rearing calf sales, as well as making his mark in both the store cattle and store lamb sales arenas.

While the change of direction represents a new challenge for 30-year-old Sam, who lives in Addingham, he will continue to be in close contact with the regional agricultural communities.

CCM Auctions’ general manager Jeremy Eaton said: “Sam has proved an excellent communicator and ambassador both on and off the rostrum.

“He has been extremely active in the farming community, in which he is well liked.

“We greatly value what Sam has done at Skipton Auction Mart.”

Mr Eaton said the search for a successor had already begun, with the post at one of the north’s leading auction marts seen as being of potential interest to both up-and-coming livestock auctioneers and graduates.

The plan is to introduce a new face as soon as possible so that they are able to see the mart operating at full capacity on virtually every day of the week, along with the potential that the position holds, as well as familiarising themselves with the mart’s key contacts regionally and nationally.

Across the yard at NFU Mutual, Agent and Craven Group Secretary Stephen Dew said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Sam on board. He is very well known across the regional agricultural communities.

“We feel he will be a tremendous asset to the business with his extensive farming knowledge and standing in the area.

“We are restructuring and Sam will prove a valuable addition to an expanding team.

“He will learn about all aspects of the business and will be spending a lot of his time on the farming side as an insurance specialist, servicing existing customers and developing new business.”