Home-grown bakery leads the rural way

Jun 12 2007 By The Journal

A home-grown bakery business in Northumberland has risen out of the ashes of the foot-and-mouth crisis and is thriving with the help of a rural enterprise initiative part funded by European money.

Developed by Tynedale Council and funded by a range of partners, Rural Enterprise Tynedale has helped different businesses to set up or diversify, stimulating entrepreneurship and tackling barriers to self-employment in rural areas.

The project piloted flexible new approaches to promote and develop a rural entrepreneurial culture, including workshops to encourage individuals to start up new businesses and teacher-led enterprise activity in Tynedale schools.

It has also helped small businesses network with each other, creating opportunities for inter-trading and helping those in rural areas to recognise changes in markets.

Former national tour guide Jo Burrill set up her own home-based organic bread-making business after being made redundant in 2001.

Her involvement with Rural Enterprise Tynedale began after receiving a letter about the Tynedale Enterprise Festival, which helped her to network with other businesses and local suppliers. She then attended evening workshops run by the project.

Jo began by leafleting houses in the local neighbourhood and delivering bread by bicycle.

Over the last six years, turnover has grown and she now sells bread at the local farmers' market twice a month, takes in orders and employs two part-time staff.

"About five years ago I realised that my bread had potential, but didn't take the idea any further until losing my job," explained Jo.

"Getting out of bed in the morning is no problem. I'm an early riser," she quipped.

"But it's the customers' delight that really motivates me.

"The most rewarding part of my job is setting up the stall at the farmers' market in Hexham, seeing it piled high with my bread, then watching it all disappear into the shopping bags of enthusiastic customers."

Home-based, seasonal micro-businesses perform an important role in maintaining rural communities. Rural Enterprise Tynedale has been able to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit with a European Regional Development Fund investment of £185,778 to ensure the project went ahead.

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