Norfolk Rural Business Awards 2024

Rural Norfolk's outstanding businesses, community organisations and individuals have been celebrated thanks to a new awards scheme.

Norfolk County Council joined with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association to launch the Royal Norfolk Business Awards to showcase the very best the county has to offer.

The winners of the nine different categories were announced at a special ceremony at the Royal Norfolk Show on 27 June 2024.

The winners were as follows:

• Best Rural Community Initiative (sponsored by Aviva) - Clinks Care Farm, near Beccles. 
• Best Farming Innovation Adopter (sponsored by Lovewell Blake) - Place UK, Tunstead.
• Best Food Producer - (sponsored by Fountain Fresh Imports) DJ Barnard, Attleborough.
• Norfolk's Unsung Hero (sponsored by Breckland District Council) - Andy Hubble of Hub4Parts, Wisbech.
• Best Farming Champion (sponsored by CLG Norfolk Ltd) - Mark Gorton of Traditional Norfolk Poultry, Shropham.
• Best High Growth Business (sponsored by New Anglia Growth Hub) - Bacon's Firewood, Hingham.
• Best Sustainable Land Use or Farming Exemplar (sponsored by Birketts LLP) - Fischer Farms, Food Enterprise Park, near Norwich.
• Best Drink Maker (sponsored by Woodforde's Brewery) - The English Distillery, Roudham.
• Best Emerging Talent (sponsored by PlantGrow) - Tom Martin and Hannah Hetherington, Mendhams Farm, Outwell.

The event held at the Norfolk Showground was a huge success in its inaugural year, and it is hoped it will become a regular feature on the county's calendar.