Our People

Bedfordia employs a huge diversity of people, and Bedfordia people embrace their roles with enjoyment and enthusiasm. Here’s an introduction to just a few of them and what they feel about Bedfordia.

John Ibbett - Chairman and Chief Executive

John is responsible for setting and implementing the overall direction, vision and strategy of the Group. He chairs the Group Board and the boards of companies in all four subsidiary trading divisions.

A graduate in agricultural marketing and business administration from Harper Adams Agricultural College, John represents the third generation of the Ibbett family's ownership and management of the Bedfordia Group. He has worked for the group since 1983 and has been chief executive since 1995. As well as being a passionate and highly regarded expert in agriculture and property, John's enthusiasm for a diversity of commercial activity is clear in the variety of the Group's operations. It is John's combination of commercial and environmental vision that has been fundamental to the Group expansion into the eco-technology sector.

Phil Moffat - BIOGEN Operations Manager

Phil started work for Bedfordia Farms in 1989 when he was still an engineering student and he was employed to assist with the harvest that year. Once Phil joined full time, Bedfordia recognised his skills in engineering and he progressed to the position of Grainstore Manager with responsibility for the storage, management and trade of all the crops produced by Bedfordia and other business partners, as well as the management of the store as a futures market storage facility. With the commencement of the Biogen project, Phil was the obvious choice to take on the responsibility for developing the operating efficiency in the first plant. Today, as Operations Manager Phil gains huge satisfaction from knowing that he is managing the machinery and engines which are generating power from waste food and animal slurry. "Working for Bedfordia has given me the opportunity to develop and attain my own potential."

Steve Penman - Dealer Principal, Elms BMW Cambridge

Steve Penman joined Bedfordia in 2002. He was first employed at Myltons in Bedford where he was responsible for sales in Chrysler Jeep. When the sales operation was closed in 2005, he was offered the opportunity to take up the post of Sales Manager at Elms Cambridge and subsequently the role of Dealer Principal in 2008. The best thing about working for Bedfordia is that he can relate to the whole ethos of the company. At his interview the closing question was "We are looking for 'Bedfordia' people, do you think you are one?" His reply based on what he had already seen of the company was, "I think so, but if I'm not then I'd like to be".
Steve believes Bedfordia stands out within the motor trade as an organisation that values its people.

Steve's philosophy is that 'customers come first'. He also respects John Ibbett's attitude to the business and his genuine interest in people as he makes the effort to find out how things are going with you. In his spare time Steve is a keen photographer.

Karen Pettit - Group Accounts Assistant, Head Office

Karen joined Bedfordia in 1982 working in the Farms accounts department. Karen remembers dealing with the payroll when the wages were still counted out in cash and put into little brown envelopes! She attributes the reason for her long service with the company to the people and the culture. "Although Bedfordia can't be described as a small company, it feels like it is. I think that's because it's family run and the directors instil their personal principles and values throughout the business."
In her spare time Karen is extremely busy either cooking or enjoying a varied social life, out walking with her husband Derek, their dog Jade, or both! Karen is also involved with a project in her local village to restore a site of special interest which involves everything from hedge laying to cataloguing the flora and fauna.

Richard Smith - Livestock Manager, Bedfordia Farms

Richard joined the company in 1962 at the age of just 15. He received a long service award in 2002 for completing over 40 years of service.
How many people can boast that they used to push their boss (John Ibbett) around in his pram? That's something Richard would do frequently while mowing the lawn at Clifton Ibbett's home as part of his job in the early days!
"I enjoy the challenge of my job - to produce as many healthy piglets as possible. Bedfordia is my life. I can't imagine doing anything else or working anywhere else", says Richard.

In his spare time Richard is a keen bee-keeper, selling over one tonne of honey produced annually from Bedfordia crops to a loyal local following!