Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm Owner Named ‘Triumph Over Adversity’

Winner at National Awards

4th March 2020

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Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm, near Battle, are celebrating after owner Clive Collins won the ‘Triumph Over Adversity’ award

at the 2019/2020 Rural Business Awards’ National Final. In addition, employee Toby Ballard was Highly Commended in the category for ‘Rural Young Person of the Year’.

 

Clive and Toby had previously been named winners in their respective categories at the South East Regional Finals in October 2019. This allowed them to progress to the National Finals, which were held at The Monastery, Manchester, on 27th February 2020. 

 

The Rural Business Awards are the only UK-wide programme dedicated to recognising and celebrating the successes of businesses operating in the UK’s rural economy; a sector which in England alone contributes £261bn to the nation’s GVA

(Gross Value Added) – nearly a fifth of the country’s total economic activity .

 

The ‘Triumph Over Adversity’ award was created to recognise and celebrate businesses or individuals who have overcome significant business or personal difficulties in order to succeed.

 

Speaking after winning the award, Clive said: “I am very happy to have won this prestigious national award. The panel told me I had been chosen not because I use a wheelchair, but for adapting and learning new skills to make my new business successful… skills such as plantation management, sales and marketing which are needed to run a growing Christmas tree farm.

 

“We’ve been open to our customers for 32 years now, and I am proud of everything my team and I have achieved. Receiving this award from the Rural Business Awards and Amazon, and Toby being a finalist in the ‘Rural Young Person of the Year’ category,

really makes this a landmark year for us.”

 

Founded by rural-based business women, Jemma Clifford and Anna Price, the Rural Business Awards are backed by Amazon and judged by an independent panel, drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.

 

Anna Price, who co-founded the RBAs, alongside Jemma Clifford, said: “The 2019/20 Rural Business Awards has been our best year yet, and our work to promote the rural sector would not be possible without the support of Amazon and our other sponsors.

The calibre of entries this year was exceptional, so we’d like to wish a hearty congratulations to all our winners and runners up. We’re inspired by all of our national finalists, but the judges were particularly impressed by Clive Collins from Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.”

 

Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm has been operating in East Sussex for over 30 years and has one simple mission – to provide the best-quality trees in Sussex at the best possible prices. They understand the importance of good customer service and focus on delivering to Sussex residents the complete Christmas experience.

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For more information and interview requests and images, please contact Suzi Christie: suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk

or call 07590 591140.

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