Tree-mendous success for Sussex’s Festive Farmer

21st June 2022

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Christmas has come early for East Sussex businessman Clive Collins, after he took home a £20,000 prize from the Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs for his work with Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm near Bexhill.

 

The prestigious awards, first launched in 2007, are jointly run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Leonard Cheshire. The Awards offer one of the largest financial prizes for disabled entrepreneurs in the UK.

 

The Stelios Awards were relaunched this year with new criteria following a two-year postponement due to the pandemic. The three winners celebrated in a virtual ceremony held on Monday 13 June.

 

Clive took home one of the top prizes for his work building up his Christmas tree farm from scratch over the course of thirty years after acquiring a disability. He now runs the business with a simple goal in mind: deliver the best quality Christmas trees in the area with an environmentally responsible approach.

 

Born in Stoke-on-Trent and raised in Sussex, Clive came to start his festive business through a mixture of chance and determination. After falling out of a tree, Clive acquired a spinal injury and began using a wheelchair. While adjusting to his new life, he realised he could put his education in forestry to good use and bought up land for a plantation.

 

Since then, the business has grown – quite literally in the case of the trees. Clive’s Stelios win is only the latest of a series of business awards for the farm.

 

Clive has four golden rules for entrepreneurs.

 

Clive said: “One: if you haven't got an education in sales and marketing, get one! Two: have a vision of what your business is going to look like and your likely sales predictions. Three: cultivate some good mentors and listen to them. And finally, get an understanding of accounting – I’m still working on this one, but I have a very good accountant to help me out!”

 

Responding to his win, Clive added: “To be chosen as an outstanding entrepreneur gives me more confidence to move ahead with my Christmas Tree Farm business. I feel most humbled and lucky to be selected as a winner.”

 

Leonard Cheshire Chief Executive Ruth Owen said:

 

“This is a very well-deserved win for Clive. His and other entries show the huge amount of talent out there. It’s brilliant to see such fantastic businesses from disabled entrepreneurs, showing what we’ve known for a long time – disabled people can be really successful entrepreneurs and can offer so much in the workplace."

 

Sir Stelios said:

 

“I am delighted that we have again found three very worthy winners who have proven that the best way for a disabled person to earn a good living is to start their own business!

 

"Congratulations to all three winners and the 48 other applicants who should be encouraged to try again next year."

 

Since the Awards started in 2007 Sir Stelios and his foundation have donated a grand total of £1,196,000, including this year’s sum, as prize money through the Awards, giving disabled entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their talents.

 

ENDS

 

For media enquiries, please contact Sam Buckley, Communications Officer on samuel.buckley@leonardcheshire.org or 07935 916335. Alternatively, please contact Suzi Christie at Blueberry PR on suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk or 07590 591140.

 

Notes for Editors 

 

• We are Leonard Cheshire – supporting individuals to live, learn and work as independently as they choose, whatever their ability. Led by people with experience of disability, we are at the heart of local life – opening doors to opportunity, choice and support in communities around the globe. Visit: www.leonardcheshire.org or follow us on twitter: @leonardcheshire 

 

• The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is a registered charity in the UK which backs a number of charitable initiatives in the UK, Greece, Cyprus and Monaco. The Foundation gives support in four main areas: scholarships, supporting entrepreneurship with cash prizes, donating money to environmental and other charities and operating a poverty relief programme in Greece and Cyprus - “Food from the Heart”

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