Skipton Auction Mart’s growing influence as a leading northern events venue, coupled with its major impact on the regional economy, was clearly demonstrated when the mart hosted the National Beef Association’s national beef event, Beef Expo 2007. (Thurs, May 17)

CCM stand at Beef Expo 2007

Organisers said this year’s Beef Expo was the biggest and best since the annual event was launched 10 years ago, with a record attendance of almost 6,000 visitors, a record 155 trade stands and 23 beef breed society demonstrations.

Hosts Craven Cattle Marts (CCM), also one of the main sponsors, said it was the biggest single event to be held at their Skipton site since they moved there in 1990. Traffic management and park-and-ride schemes were successfully put in place to cope with visitor numbers, handled by PL Security Services, of Pateley Bridge.

Beef Expo also marked the start of a major push by the National Beef Association to promote top quality British breeding stock to international buyers. Over 30 overseas guests from Poland, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland joined thousands of beef farmers from throughout the UK and Ireland.

As a direct result of the influx, Skipton and the wider Craven area benefited significantly, particularly in the demand for accommodation right across the region. Sue Swales, manager of Skipton Tourist Information Centre, said every single hotel and b&b room in the town was booked on the eve of the event. “It had a major impact on midweek accommodation requirements,” she commented.

Anthea Rathlin-Jones, CCM’s arts development programme and events manager, said: “Beef Expo, which was a year in planning, is the biggest single outside event we have ever staged at the mart. It proved a huge success, with the traffic management and parking schemes put in place working really well.

“Beef Expo has helped raise the profile of Skipton and the wider area both nationally and internationally, also having a beneficial impact on both the local and rural economies.

“Equally, it has cemented the reputation of Skipton Auction Mart as a major venue in the north for staging events of national importance and - through the Mart Theatre - as a rural centre for culture and entertainment. The facilities here are superb and occasions such as Beef Expo are both fundamental and crucial to what I am trying to deliver here in crossing borders between the arts and agriculture.”

CCM general manager Jeremy Eaton stressed: “Big national events such as these help subsidise the operation of livestock markets at Skipton, which will always remain our core business activity in support of the regional agricultural communities.”

Driffield farmer and Limousin cattle breeder Jim Bloom, chairman of the Beef Expo organising committee, added: “We need to say a very big thank you to CCM. They have done everything we asked of them.”

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