Viper Marketing & Communications Group

Nature Based Business Networks

- News article posted on Thursday 08 Apr 2010 at 08:04 by Jim Hardcastle

Viper's Jim Hardcastle with other nature based entrepreneurs is helping staff at Norton Radstock College take the first steps in a project aimed at building support networks businesses in rural locations around Bristol and Bath.

Eight entrepreneurs from nature-based firms met at the Folly Farm Centre, near Stowey, in the Chew Valley, for discussions which will eventually form part of the European Union-supported Envolwe project, which originated in Finland.

The project's UK co-ordinator, Rosaleen Courtney, who is based at Norton Radstock College , said: "There are many rural businesses in the Bristol-Bath area, providing activities such as educational visits, canoeing, walking, caving and biking. In most cases they employ from one to 10 people, but together they make up a significant sector of the local economy.

"This meeting was an opportunity for entrepreneurs to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing outdoor activities providers in the area, and to consider ways of strengthening co-operation between them and vocational education and training providers.

"A major difficulty they face is that they are dispersed across a wide area, so they lack contact and networking opportunities with others in their field."

At the meeting, the entrepreneurs discussed co-operation models and pilot plans used by similar businesses in other European countries. Suggestions were invited for the development of the area's own co-operation pilot plan, and College staff led a discussion on the skills needed in nature-based businesses now and in the future.

Jim Hardcastle, from Viper Marketing Ltd and a director of Active Mendip, said: "Many sole traders in this line of business are struggling to market themselves, but if we all work together we can help each other. It’s all about channelling the love people have for the countryside and helping them to enjoy this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which lies so close to the major urban centre of Bristol."

Steve Micklewright, of the Folly Farm Centre, said: "Marketing is the biggest problem for rural businesses. We've been fortunate at this centre in being able to use what this region offers. It was bought in 1988 as a working farm - now it's a learning centre, and used for conferences, retreats and other activities. We even have a teddy bears' picnic."

The centre has run courses on making wildlife films, using people from Bristol, which is now an acknowledged world centre for wildlife film production.

Envolwe project co-ordinator Rosaleen Courtney said: "Eventually, the success stories gathered from all over Europe will be used to help support these small nature-based firms. Our students and staff will be working together with entrepreneurs to develop the skills and experience needed. " For more information on the initiative, e-mail rosaleen.courtney@nortcoll.ac.uk

- Posted on Thursday 08 Apr 2010 at 08:04 by Jim Hardcastle