Five Questions with Liam Stokes, British Game Alliance Chief Executive

As the British Game Alliance works on plans for its attendance at The Game Fair 2021, we caught up with Liam Stokes, who was appointed CEO back in May, to discover his vision for the organisation and why we should all get on board.

How would you explain the British Game Alliance’s aims and objectives to someone who has not come across the organisation before?

We work for the British game meat sector and in that, alongside game farmers, processors and stockists, we include shoots of all sizes and models, because anyone who shoots game is producing game meat whether they sell it or not.

We provide shoots and the game meat sector with an assurance scheme, a development board and a marketing operation. We aim to help all shoots embrace our Assurance Scheme, boosting Government and public confidence in our community and underpinning a vibrant game meat market returning value to our stockists, processors, shoots and game farms.

Why do you think the BGA assurance scheme is key to securing a future for the industry?

Pressure for credible regulation of shoots is growing by the day. We have seen the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) calling for shoot licensing, supported by The Times leader.

We have seen DEFRA pressured into reviewing the release of gamebirds and opting for some form of licensing for release on or around protected sites.

Shoots have to get on the front foot of this agenda and take responsibility for sector-wide regulation, or these developments will only be the thin end of the wedge.

The BGA Assurance Schemes, for shoots and for game farms, offer the shooting sector a credible, transparent, independently audited set of standards. These standards not only provide the Government and the public with confidence in our sector, but for stockists selling game they are crucial to match the schemes that other food producers already have in place, such as Red Tractor.

What would you say to shoots and game farms that are reluctant to sign up and become a member of the BGA?

I would simply ask them to count the cost of not supporting a fully assured shooting sector. I have heard it said that BGA membership is only for large shoots, or only for those who sell their game. I understand why people might think that, because shoots that sell their game benefit both from our assurance and from our marketing operation.

Let’s not forget that, when the BGA was formed nearly three years ago, shoots were routinely paying for game to be collected and were fretting about over-supply. The BGA has worked hard to address that situation and continues to work towards bringing greater value to shot game.

It is not right, however, that only shoots that sell game should join the BGA, because all shoots of all sizes are under scrutiny. A fully assured sector, from egg to stockist, is the best defence we have against regulations and licensing being imposed upon us and driven by less-friendly forces.

On a more optimistic note, I would also say that joining the BGA shows a commitment to the idea of game as food. Even if your shoot doesn’t sell game, everyone who shoots should support the improved marketing of game meat because the more people eating game, the more people will be inclined to support shooting!

After an interesting and challenging 2020, what are your plans for 2021?

Expanding Assurance will be top priority, because that is what game shoots need to happen. We need to evidence sector-wide assurance as the Government reacts to RSPB and Wild Justice pressure, so we will be working to help shoots and game farms sign up. Growing the Assurance Scheme will also help us open new markets for game.

Our 2020 focus was very much on eating game at home. Hopefully in 2021 we can press on with helping our registered pubs, restaurants and hotels get back on the front foot. It will be a fascinating year for shoots and the whole game meat sector.

Much like 2020, I expect we will need to be fleet of foot to respond to the circumstances as they change. We need to see how the economy reacts as we hopefully see the back of the epidemic and support our members accordingly.

Finally, why is The Game Fair so important to the BGA?

The Game Fair is a key date in the calendar for the whole shooting community. For the BGA there is no finer opportunity for us to meet our dedicated members and hear their views on our direction of travel.

It is also a chance for anyone with questions about who we are and what we do to speak to us and decide if BGA Assurance and membership is something they can get behind.

www.britishgamealliance.co.uk