Rural Challenge Finalists announced

The time has arrived for us to announce our If we can, you can Rural Challenge finalists! This is the first year we’ve run this part of the Challenge and we’ve been superbly supported by the Country Land and Business Association, who have made it their mission to help us spread the word about the entrepreneurial talent in rural North East England.

Below is some information on our finalists – they are now looking forward to our Pick Our Brains Opportunity panel taking place next week, with high calibre entrepreneurs Keith Miller, Tony Trapp, Ali McLean and Angus Collingwood Cameron of the CLA offering advice and guidance based on their years of entrepreneurial experience. From this our new Face of Rural Entrepreneurship and Ambassador for Rural Entrepreneurship will be announced so watch this space for all the latest news.

Justin Souter took voluntary redundancy from a major corporate just before the recession took hold. A friend suggested he start a business so he could sub-contract to other people, but he realised he could fulfil some long-held ambitions by setting up Souter Consulting Limited. SCL helps customers create ‘digital nervous systems’ which allow information to flow around their organisations, with leading edge thinking and tools to create competitive advantage.

James Brown worked as a land agent since leaving college, but now feels that it is time to branch out on his own using his experience and contacts to create a new successful business, which involve some ambitious future plans.

A serial entrepreneur from school age, Maddy Stuckey runs organic beauty company Natural Empathy with her mum. Natural Empathy products provide nature’s way to beauty with gorgeous organic essential oil fragrances and locally grown ingredients. Plans are afoot to sell the spa range across the country and eventually showcased on a global stage.

Jimmy Bell comes from a farming family that has farmed in Northumberland for over 400 years. In 1992 he and his wife bought East Wingates Farm and over the years he has come up with many intuitive ideas to expand his market and showcase new products.

James Cookson owns Meldon Park, a traditional rural estate based in Northumberland just West of Morpeth. The estate boasts new enterprises including the Kitchen Garden, a walled garden which now houses a café and shop. James is also starting new rural enterprises aimed at different markets to strengthen the rural economy.

Having worked as a civil servant for many years and progressed to working for a registered charity helping people from disadvantaged background, Ian Nelson decided it was time to put one of the many ideas he came up with into action and start his own business. Whilst playing golf he came up with the idea of a product that would remove the inconvenience of raking through bags for golf balls, tees and other essential accessories. The T Caddy was born.