A Wold Newton farm diversification enterprise has been named as one of the best in the UK by the Rural Business Awards as it announces its shortlist.
T. Mellor and Son’s farm diversification businesses Wold Top Brewery, Agricola Bottling and Muddy Souls Events caught the attention of a panel of independent judges and has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Rural Diversification Project category of the prestigious awards.
The business was required to indicate how it had established a strong position in its marketplace, its contribution to the rural and wider business economy and demonstrate growth and commitment to the rural sector through a business or people focus.
It also had to express the business’ impact on communities and the environment and outline a strategy for continued growth.
The entry proved to be a reminder for Tom and Gill Mellor, the husband and wife partnership who founded the first diversification business, Wold Top Brewery in 2003, of the merits consolidating their diversification business has brought to the community.
Gill said: “Our contribution to the rural and local business community is an important element of running our farm diversification businesses and we’re delighted to have reached the finals of the Rural Business Awards.”
Wold Top Brewery has been shortlisted alongside four other UK rural diversification organisations.
The Rural Business Awards, run in partnership with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and Amazon, honour the best in British countryside enterprise. This year, hundreds of organisations from 52 counties entered the Awards that span 13 categories.
Rural Business Awards co-founder Anna Price said: “With typical rural spirit, farmers are not taking the harsh economic climate lying down, but are thinking outside the box as to how to make the most of their natural assets and create some fabulously innovative and successful businesses. T.Mellor and Son is a super example of a diversified farm business making use of all its natural assets and working in harmony with the environment. Its success speaks for itself and the business was a joy to read about. The standard of this category has been staggering and we wish T.Mellor and Son, alongside the other finalists, the very best of luck at the Award Ceremony in October where the winners will be announced.”
The results of this year’s awards will be revealed at the ceremony at Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey, on October 5.
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Photo: Wold Top Brewery Directors L-R Gill Mellor, Alex and Kate Balchin, Tom Mellor Wold Top Brewery Directors
For more information or to arrange an interview with Wold Top Brewery directors Tom or Gill Mellor, please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on:
Direct line: 01430 871360
Mobile: 07971 961574
E mail: traceybaty@three60marketing.
Web: www.three60marketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
- For more information about Wold Top Brewery, please visit www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk. You can also find Wold Top Brewery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and you can keep up to date with the brewery’s latest news here.
- Wold Top Brewery was born in 2003 when the Mellor family diversified from farming into beer brewing using the malting barley they produce and the farm’s own supply of water.
- More information on the range of bottled beers can be found at www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk/beers
. - For more information about the Rural Business Awards, please visit www.ruralbusinessawards.co.uk.
- Created by rural entrepreneurs, Jemma Clifford and Anna Price, the RBAs are the only UK-wide programme dedicated to showcasing the success of rural businesses – a segment which employs more than 3.4 million people in over half a million businesses. The RBAs are split into 13 categories with one category winner also crowned overall Champion of Champions.