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If you would like to enquire about any of our funding programmes please send us a message here. Please include the name of the funding you are enquiring about.
MAKE YOUR ENTERPRISE EXCEPTIONAL
FARMING SECTOR
In 2018 husband and wife, Graham and Jocelyn, transformed Hayes Farm into an organic farming system. The transition presented the opportunity to specialize in a growing market, producing certified 100% Grass-fed and organic native beef and honey. In the early years of business, the turnover from the 100 acre farm more than doubled.
In 2020, the business followed its core principle of being a ‘nose to tail’ producer by expanding into tallow products. The range of skincare products, soaps and lip balms are blended with natural oils and the farms own beeswax and loaded with vitamins, and are proving immensely popular with customers nationwide. Sales have accelerated at such a speed that production has quickly outgrown current facilities, which is where DR came in.
In 2021 Hayes Meadow successfully applied for a LEADER (Greater Dartmoor Local Area Enterprise Fund) grant of more than £96,000 through The DR Company. The funds will allow Graham and Jocelyn to concentrate their current setup from three separate repurposed spaces into one purpose built modular unit manufactured off site; enabling processing, packing, fulfilment on one site, therefore improving efficiency.
Graham explained – ‘’ the project will enable us to scale our organic 100% grass-fed mail order retail, in line with our current sales trajectory. It will also enable us to cater for more bespoke wholesale activity and international sales of soap and skincare.’’
Upon completion of the project, they hope to introduce a full-time production manager within the first year, with plans to employ up to 3 more additional members of staff across the following 3 years.
Graham and Jocelyn acknowledge the fact that without their innovative business diversification, Hates Meadow would have had little prospect of providing a secure long-term future for the family, and that they would not have achieved their business goals without the support of DR Company and the Rural Payments Agency
‘’The DR Company have supported us on our entire journey of transformation and diversification. They helped us change our farm system from traditional to holistic, then when we established our farm to fork retail system they were here to help us take the big step up to build purpose built facilities to enable our business to flourish and reach new heights. The DR Company have been a pivotal partner in helping our farm business adapt to change and seize opportunities.’’
If you would like to enquire about any of our funding programmes please send us a message here. Please include the name of the funding you are enquiring about.
The Diverse Regeneration Company (a CIC, not-for-profit organisation) team are experts in helping rural & coastal businesses and communities across the UK. The team can help secure grant funding for projects in sectors such as farming, forestry and communities.