Leading Change with First Milk, UK
February 28, 2025Leading Change in the Dairy Industry: David Meade at First Milk
First Milk: A Cooperative Committed to Progress
First Milk is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative that plays a crucial role in the UK’s dairy industry. With a commitment to sustainability, ethical business practices, and strong relationships with its farmer members, First Milk operates across multiple sites in England, Scotland, and Wales. The cooperative’s focus on innovation and continuous improvement has enabled it to provide high-quality dairy products while supporting its members through fair pricing and long-term partnerships.
In an industry undergoing significant transformation, First Milk is dedicated to shaping the future of dairy by investing in regenerative agriculture, sustainability initiatives, and supply chain innovation. Recognising the need to equip their team with the skills and mindset to lead change rather than merely respond to it, they invited David Meade to speak at their recent event – which he was excited to attend!
Navigating Change with Confidence
Understanding the complexities of the dairy industry and First Milk’s ambitions, David worked closely with the leadership team to craft a session that would resonate with every team member. His keynote focused on high-performance teams, collaboration, leadership, and customer centricity, all through the lens of real-world psychology and behavioural science.
David’s session explored:
- The Characteristics of High-Performing Teams – How First Milk’s teams can build resilience and agility to drive results in a rapidly evolving industry.
- Building Collaborative Cultures – Overcoming the challenges of operating across multiple sites and locations by fostering communication and cooperation.
- The Science of Motivation and Inspiration – Practical insights into how to engage and empower individuals at all levels of the organisation.
- Customer Centricity – Ensuring that every decision made within the cooperative aligns with the needs of customers, farmers, and stakeholders.
A Passionate and Engaged Team
David was blown away by the energy and enthusiasm of the First Milk team, sharing:
“The reception from the audience was absolutely incredible. Every single team member truly got involved, passionately participating in conversations about the future of the business and the industry. It was inspiring to see their commitment to making a real impact—not just for their customers and team members, but also for the communities in which they work.”
A Business Preparing to Set the Pace for the Industry
First Milk is more than just a cooperative—it’s a movement towards a more sustainable, progressive, and impactful dairy industry.
First Milk’s dedication to reinventing how they think, act, and operate places them in a powerful position within the dairy sector. As they continue to grow, their willingness to embrace new ideas, innovation, and bold leadership strategies will likely set the benchmark for the industry in the years ahead.
A huge thank you to First Milk’s leadership team for providing such a valuable and insightful brief – David is EXCITED to see what the future holds for this forward-thinking and dynamic organisation. Watch David’s recap of his keynote for First Milk over on LinkedIn!
Book a Collaborative Keynote
Do you have a high-performing team that you want to inspire? Contact David’s team today for more information on his keynote options.