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.
Mellor and Son’s businesses Wold Top Brewery, Agricola Bottling and Muddy Souls Events caught the attention of the independent judging panel and has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Rural Diversification Project category of the prestigious awards.
Businesses were required to indicate how they had established a strong position in their marketplace, contributed to the rural and wider business economy and demonstrate growth and commitment to the rural sector through their 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.”
Run in partnership with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and Amazon, the Awards honour the best in British countryside enterprise. This year, hundreds of organisations from 52 counties entered the Awards that span 13 categories and Wold Top Brewery have been shortlisted alongside four other UK rural diversification organisations.
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.