Press Release
THE WINNERS OF THE CROWN ESTATE BUSINESS AWARDS 2006 ANNOUNCED
13 July 2006
The Crown Estate is delighted to announce the winners of a new, company-wide Business Awards scheme designed to recognise excellence in business performance, innovation, environmental care and sustainability. These areas complement The Crown Estate’s core values of commercialism, integrity and stewardship.
The awards operate in each of The Crown Estate’s business areas – marine, rural and urban - and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to encouraging the development of successful, innovative and sustainable business.
The Marine Business Award winner is Johnson Seafarms based in Vidlin, Shetland. For over two decades Johnson’s farmed salmon has been recognised as premium grade. They were amongst the first in the world to produce farmed cod on a commercial scale and their farmed mussels have quickly found ready buyers across Europe.
Their pioneering strategy aims to make all Johnson Seafarms produce organic, including mussels and sea trout. The company has done much to raise the profile of marine fish farming in a positive manner, through the development of a unique brand.
The judges were particularly impressed with how the company, in the middle of very difficult trading conditions, managed to raise £21m of private equity funding to diversify from salmon farming into farming organic cod. The company maintains a strong focus on sustainability, the environment, fish welfare and invests significant sums in research and development for the future.
The Rural Business Award has been won by James and Carole Fisher of Newton House Farm on the Bingham Estate in Nottinghamshire.
The Fishers farm just over 370 hectares (920 acres) of predominantly arable land bordering the village of Newton, and the Fisher family have been tenants of The Crown Estate since it purchased the estate in 1937.
The Fishers have been keen to ensure the continuous improvement and development of their business seeking opportunities for growth. The farm business has specialised in arable cropping and their son Adam is responsible for managing and developing day-to-day operations.
In addition, the business has developed new enterprises including an equestrian business now regarded as one of the best training facilities in the Midlands. Their Christmas tree business now sells over 1000 trees every year.
The judges said, “The Fishers’ involvement in the community in general and the efforts that are made to ensure a good local understanding of rural issues in particular are outstanding.”
The Urban Business Award has been awarded to Viridor Waste Management for their recycling business in Taunton, Somerset.
Occupying 28 hectares on the Priorswood estate in Taunton, Viridor Waste Management have worked with The Crown Estate to redevelop an old landfill site into a modern household waste recycling centre.
The site is now used by approximately 1000 members of the public and recycles over 25 types of household waste. Materials such as paper, card, wood and metal are recycled and tonnages recovered have risen from 15,000 tonnes per annum to over 30,000 tonnes per annum with the construction of the new materials recycling facility.
The judges were highly impressed by Viridor’s commitment to deliver improved recycling facilities at the Priorswood Estate while addressing issues of noise pollution and traffic congestion by locating the new facility to the south of the site away from the perimeter overlooking the canal and houses.
The company’s engagement with other stakeholders and the efforts made to ensure that the new recycling facility not only met their businesses needs, but also those of their neighbours was deemed to be particularly commendable.
Roger Bright, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate, said, “I am delighted to be able to announce the winners of The Crown Estate Business Awards, in this, their inaugural year.
“To receive a Business Award is an accolade of which our winners can be very proud, beating, as they have done, diverse entries from across the breadth of The Crown Estate.
“The winners this year have all demonstrated exemplary business acumen and foresight, tackling the challenges their businesses faced with innovative solutions and excellent commercial results.”
Roger Bright will present all of the winners with their prizes – specially designed trophies – at a lunchtime reception at Lancaster House, London on Thursday 13 July 2006, when The Crown Estate annual results will also be announced.
Please visit our Business Awards pages on this website.
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