An appeal has been made to small and medium sized businesses to throw their support behind a mental health charity and organic farming enterprise’s expansion into West Cumbria.
Growing Well recently took control of the former Beck Green nurseries site in Egremont following grant awards from Copeland Community Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The charity offers support to help people rebuild their confidence, learn new skills, and give support and assistance in achieving personal goals, such as returning to work or education. It already operates sites at Low Sizergh Farm, near Kendal, and Tebay Services.
Quantity Surveying and procurement practice Solomons Europe is the first SME to throw its hat in the ring and help transform the site so Growing Well can support 100 people from local communities each year. The company – which has offices near Cockermouth and Kendal – is providing project management services to Growing Well to help achieve its ambitious target of being operational and generating revenue by June 2024.
Ben Quitman from Solomons Europe, who is undertaking the project management role, urged SMEs with expertise in civils and demolition, along with gas and electrical engineers to support the project. He said other skills would be needed to drive the site’s redevelopment forward over the coming months.
“This is a great cause and we’re proud to be helping at Solomons,” said Ben.
“We’re now calling on the SME community in West Cumbria to support this extremely worthy project. We know how passionate small businesses are about investing in the local community and delivering social impact activities that make a real difference to people’s lives. It would be fantastic to see Growing Well’s ambitious plans delivered by local businesses.”
Paul Cambre, Head of Horticulture at Growing Well, said: “This is a new venture in a new place for us. There’s a lot of work to be done and we need the support of local businesses to get the site operational and helping people who need our support. It’s an exciting time for Growing Well and we’re hoping as many local small businesses as possible will join us on our journey.”
Planning and utilities permissions are currently being sought for the site situated at the heart of Egremont, with work set to start as soon as possible. Recruitment of site staff, planting and seed sowing will begin at the end of 2023, early 2024, with site works set for completion in May or June.
Growing Well’s plans were recently presented at a meeting of companies involved in the Swimming with the Big Fish SME Matchmaker Service. The Service is being delivered by Solomons Europe for Programme and Project Partners (PPP) to match high performing SMEs willing to invest, grow and deliver meaningful social impact activities in Cumbria, with Key Delivery Partners who have been awarded frameworks contained in the £7bn programme of work at the Sellafield site. Representatives from a number of Key Delivery Partners also attended the meeting and have expressed an interest in getting involved.
For further information and to get involved, contact Ben Quitman on 07796 122984 or email ben.quitman@solomonseurope.co.uk
Learn more about Growing Well click here.