Selfsufficientish.com

This may be of interest to some:

From Northern Echo, Friday March 3, 2006:

A rural home delivery service has been given a boost by the Government, with a £26,000 grant.

Crofter's Foods, based at Seamer, near Stokesley, N Yorkshire, was launched less than a year ago to take local produce to people's doorsteps.

Demand for the service is growing so rapidly that the customer base has already doubled and there are plans for a third delivery van soon.

The grant, through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Rural Enterprise Scheme, is being used to produce publicity materials and develop the firm's website.

"The business is really taking off" said Grahame Armitage, who with his wife Jane set up the business last June.

"Crofters is like your local butcher, baker and greengrocer all rolled into one, he said.

"Our progress so far has underlined what we all know - that there is a huge demand for premium quality, locally produced food. The problem people have is that they often don't have time to source all the prdocuts themseles."

Defra rural development advisor Howard hotting said: "We were very impressed by the quality of Mr Armitage's application.

"He's not only employing two people full-time and supporting a wide variety of local food producers, but also providing a well-needed service".


The article is accompanied by a photo of Mr Armitage with Defra advisor Peter Bainbridge.

wow - that's it!! I'm going to get onto my business plan immediately.

defra advisor has my bro's name lol

Glad it was of use - Sue

Sounds like a geat idea. Now its time for the Government to help out the producers of this local produce,by the time the producers have complied with all the regulations and paperwork,they are well out of pocket and I doubt they have time to produce anything!

Shirlz2005 wrote:wow - that's it!! I'm going to get onto my business plan immediately.

Go for it, Shirlz. Get in touch with Mr Armitage to begin with. He'd have lots of leads.

Don't forget, I was the first to put the idea in your head !!!!

Best,

already done that LSP - did it as soon as I read wooly's post :)

Things are a bit different up here in Scotland - there are different rules, and also Mr Armitage appears to be running a business whereas I would rather do it as a registered charity and put all the profits back into the community.

Still - it's all very helpful and I've since looked at the Scottish Executive site and am in touch with the local chamber of commerce.

Great, Shirlz.

When I started my business, I wanted to run it as a 'social enterprise'. I was particularly keen to involve many refugee/new immigrant women in my neighbourhood. I had visions of us making/sewing bags together, teaching/learning English, use of the computer, stock control, etc.

My goodness, there is so much red tape involved. It became clear that I had to ditch those lofty goals for now. I have first to establish the business, the market, etc. Then I hope to be able to involve other mothers and return to the goal of a social enterprise.

My point is: you might need to start it as a business first, because if there's where the money (grant) and advice are forthcoming, go for it. As someone said in another Forum: if you are into profit within the first three years, sack your accountant!

When you're up and running and making a profit, you can then decide which way you wish to go.

But you don't have to agree with me.

Yeah, running it as a business in the first instance makes a perverted sense because this is what the people who give our the financial support understand. If you are amazingly profitable and successful you can use your profit to benefit your community in whatever way you wish. Sue aka wooly!