What a difference a year makes!
13th Aug 2021 / By Andrea Tranter
NPA Office Manager, Andrea Tranter, is also involved with Ladies in Pigs (LIPs) - she’s put together an update so you can see how busy the team has been.
With all the uncertainty of whether shows would go ahead in 2020, this year’s LIPs diary has been brimming with bookings for shows and school days. The team has been working with GCSE students who chose pork as their exam piece and the feedback received is that they had passed with flying colours. LIPs has also been working with primary schools, talking to youngsters about where pork comes from and getting messy with cookery classes. We’ve attended shows up and down the country and often been in two places at once – with the LIPs vehicle, Rosie, at one show and our new branded portable kit at another. Soon the show season will end and we will start visiting schools and colleges again!
The shows we have been to have all been well-attended and managed in a Covid secure way, with LIPS working on a reduced team to meet Covid guidelines.That hasn’t stopped us putting out over 1000 samples of our recipes each day and talking to members of the public from all walks of life to promote British Red Tractor pork and bacon.
This year’s Great Yorkshire Show was a first for us, we took Rosie but also had an educational pod for school leavers giving advice and guidance on careers in the pig industry and a cookery workshop where younger students could come and learn about how pork is produced and have a go at making their own sausage and cheese muffins. The show was a great success, and we hope to replicate this at more shows in the future.
Driffield Show also invited us to try something new, we ran cookery demonstrations on how to prepare and cook nine different recipes highlighting the versatility of pork and bacon. This is something we hope to carry forward into future shows as it proved very popular and gave us an opportunity to have a focussed discussion with the audience.
Alongside this busy schedule, behind the scenes, we have been securing future funding and collaborations with retailers and processors. We are pleased to confirm that AHDB has once again confirmed our funding for this year, and we continue to enjoy working alongside them to promote British pork at its best.
During lockdown, while we were unable to go to shows and schools, LIPS underwent a rebrand to celebrate and modernise all elements of the organisation - including a new easy to use website, which has helped encourage new members to join, a refreshed uniform and an overhaul of Rosie.
Have a look at the new LIPs website here, you’ll find the latest recipe booklet, educational resources, and a section on how to join!
Alongside all of this, we have been planning the celebrations for the LIPs 30th birthday! We are holding a Piggy Ball on the 13th November at the Manor Hotel in Meriden West Midlands. There are a few tickets still available to purchase. The event promises to be a fun filled celebration of Ladies in Pigs, with NPA’s CEO Zoe Davies giving a speech and our Master of Ceremonies being LIPS founding member Hugh Crabtree! There will be surprises throughout the night for guests and the ball will be a real opportunity to celebrate LIPs and all those who have, and continue, to support us. Tickets are on sale at a cost of £50.00, this includes drinks on arrival, three course meal including table wine, and entertainment.
If you’d like to join us for the ball please email with your name and address, along with the number of tickets you would like. Tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis and we would love to see you there!