A Colchester-based company has been named one of the best businesses in rural Britain after winning an Amazon-backed Rural Business Award.
Abberton Rural Training from Wormingford was named Best Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project Business at the first ever virtual national final of the Rural Business Awards, in association with Amazon.
Abberton Rural Training delivers courses in rural land management including horticulture, woodlands management, and construction to vulnerable adults and isolated people and families across Essex with a particular focus on supporting those living in rural locations who need help to access jobs and further education and training.
The Rural Business Awards 2020/21 marks the Awards’ sixth year of celebrating the success of businesses across the UK’s rural sector, which contributes [1]£299bn in Gross Value Added to the overall UK economy.
This year, businesses could enter 13 categories, ranging from Best Rural Start-Up Business and Best Rural Diversification Project, through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and The Triumph Over Adversity Award.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, this year’s competition was run entirely online. The finalists attended the Awards’ first ever virtual final ceremony, which was held on Thursday 25th February 2021.
The winners were decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies and rural charitable organisations.
Speaking after winning the Best Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project Award, Jacqui Stone from Abberton Rural Training said: “We love bringing hope and opportunity to our community. We love what we do, so it’s a huge honour to be recognised by Amazon and the Rural Business Awards as Best Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project. We could not have done it without the amazing team, including our volunteers, participants and funders from across Essex who keep Abberton Rural Training going – so a big thank you goes to them for helping us win this national award.”
“It’s an honour to support the Rural Business Awards’ efforts to showcase the incredible talent of British rural business,” said John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon. “On behalf of Amazon, I would like to congratulate Abberton Rural Training on this achievement, and I wish them further success in the future.”
The Rural Business Awards is the brainchild of Leicestershire businesswomen Anna Price and Jemma Clifford, who wanted to showcase the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in rural areas of Britain.
Co-founder of The Rural Business Awards, Anna Price, added: “On behalf of the Rural Business Awards, I would like to congratulate Abberton Rural Training on this well-deserved win. I would also like to extend my congratulations to all the businesses who made it to the final and wish them well in their future endeavours.”
The 2021/22 Rural Business Awards, to be run in partnership with Amazon, is now open for entries so, to enter or find out more about the Awards, visit www.ruralbusinessawards.co.uk.
