Royal Norfolk Show reveals winners of rural business awards

The awards were launched in February by Norfolk County Council, in partnership with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), to celebrate the achievements of rural businesses and entrepreneurs in the county.

Chris Starkie director of growth and investment at Norfolk County Council said the "exceptional" awards nominees were evidence of a "vibrant and dynamic" rural economy.

"The Norfolk Rural Business Awards has given us the opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of these businesses and their contribution to our county," he said.

RNAA managing director Mark Nicholas added: "We know that successful rural communities need support and recognition, and that job creation and employment is at the heart of our thriving villages. The winners of this year’s awards showcase what is possible when entrepreneurs and business leaders set up businesses across Norfolk.”

The winners of the inaugural Norfolk Rural Business Awards met the Duke of Edinburgh at the 2024 Royal Norfolk Show (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The 2024 winners, announced at an event attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, are as follows.

Best Rural Community Initiative: Clinks Care farm is a rural social enterprise on a 143-acre Norfolk County Council farm tenancy near Beccles. It provides "meaningful therapeutic activities and day care services for vulnerable and disadvantaged people and young adults" who engage in traditional farming practices and sell the produce locally.

Best Farming Innovation Adopter: Place UK, a major fruit grower based at Tunstead, near North Walsham, has invested in a water source heat pump to its 2.2ha greenhouse to create an optimum growing environment and extend the growing season for strawberries. The system went live in spring 2023, producing the firm's earliest-ever strawberry crop.

Best Food Producer: DJ Barnard are fifth generation farmers near Attleborough who diversified into butchery to supply their local community with high-quality, home-reared beef and lamb reared on herb-rich clover to give an outstanding end product. Customer engagement is a priority, including educational demonstrations about cuts of meat and how to cook them. 

Norfolk’s Unsung Hero: Hub4Parts was set up using redundancy money but, just one year into trading, owner Andy Hubble was faced with a personal health challenge. Despite gruelling treatment, "business as usual" was maintained, supporting farming customers locally and worldwide, and the firm achieved a turnover of £500,000 in 2024.

Best Farming Champion: Mark Gorton started his poultry business with just 12 birds over 40 years ago, and Traditional Norfolk Poultry, near Attleborough, has now grown to a multi-million-pound enterprise working across 65 farms. Mr Gorton is a national representative for the poultry industry and was praised as a "prominent voice" as it fought to combat bird flu.

Best High Growth Business: Bacons Firewood started in 2015 with manually produced bundles of kindling, then expanding to timber handling and processing by incorporating new technology. The judges were particularly impressed with year-on-year growth of over 20pc. 

Best Sustainable Land Use or Farming Exemplar: Fischer Farms is one of the world’s largest vertical farms, using hydroponic soil-free growing techniques. Located at the Food Enterprise Park outside Norwich, it uses sustainable energy and water to produce high yielding crops, 365 days a year.

Best Drink Maker: The English Distillery at Roudham started as a farm diversification in 2006, using traditional equipment and local ingredients to make English whisky. This year it won two awards at the World Whiskies event.

Best Emerging Talent: Tom Martin and Hannah Hetherington have recently taken over a Norfolk County Farms Estate tenancy near Downham Market, and have transformed it from a conventional arable farm to one carrying a flock of nearly 300 ewes, and adopting modern grazing techniques. The judges found the couple's journey "truly inspiring".