Growing Business Awards 2009 - The Farmers and Business Forum
The Growing Business Award for 2009 offers a prize of £5000 to the most promising new farming or related business. The prize will be awarded at the Royal Norfolk Show at 1715h on Wednesday 1st July on Stand 255, Spirit of Enterprise, by Dennis Chamberlain OBE, Chairman of Fresh Start. Fresh Start is an all-industry project supported by Defra and is designed to encourage new entrants into farming and related industries.
Candidates are members of The Farmers and Business Forum and have started their businesses recently, drawing on the support and advice provided by the Forum. The Forum is a collaboration of Easton College, Norfolk Rural Business Advice Service and Norfolk Young Farmers.
The first award was made in 2008 and is supported by The Clan Trust, Norfolk Farmers Trust, Philip and Elizabeth Rackham Charitable Trust, Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and Anglia Farmers Ltd.
This year the Farmers and Business Forum has 3 finalists for the Growing Business Award:
1. Otleys Blue Welly Farm – David and Elizabeth Otley
David and Elizabeth started Otleys Blue Welly Farm 3 years ago, specialising in pig rearing for supplying hog roasts and box schemes. They both have full time jobs and so their working day can sometimes be 5am to 11pm. They have had support from the Farmers and Business Forum in writing a business plan which in turn helps accessing funding. They need to take the next step up to buy more stock and huts, but lack the financial resources. The £5000 award would enable them to expand the business and grow into a successful enterprise.
2. Mid Norfolk Organic Recycling - James Lake
James worked in agriculture and for waste recycling before starting his own business as an agricultural contractor 2 years ago. Being involved with the Farmers and Business Forum gave him the confidence to expand into green recycling and he bought a small composting site at Shipdham which he has built up, recycling for the local authority. He has the opportunity to expand further and hopes to undertake recycling and composting for a neighbouring local authority and the county council. The Forum has helped him to push forward and the prize money would enable him to make the investment to grow his business further.
3. Waveney Dexters – Helen Reeve
Helen has kept pedigree Dexter cattle as a hobby since she was 14 years old but 3-4 years ago decided to translate her hobby into a business. She currently has a herd of 20 young stock and cows. She sells most to the meat industry while surplus stock go to small landowners for grazing. Dexters can graze on very short grass. Helen rents a building and land for her herd and has built up her business with help, advice, support and information from the Farmers and Business Forum. This has made a real difference to her. With the prize money she would like to supplement her stock and has lots of marketing and promotional ideas she would like to take forward.
Growing Business Awards 2009 - The Farmers and Business Forum
The Growing Business Award for 2009 offers a prize of £5000 to the most promising new farming or related business. The prize will be awarded at the Royal Norfolk Show at 1715h on Wednesday 1st July on Stand 255, Spirit of Enterprise, by Dennis Chamberlain OBE, Chairman of Fresh Start. 
