Growth Hub Business Adviser Sally Lomax’s response to a request for help and support from a large honey producer in West Norfolk was to put on her own beekeeper’s suit!
Adviser Sally felt that the best way to understand the business and provide the support they needed was to join the owner whilst he went about his work on a routine day.
Leigh’s Bees Ltd is one of a handful of honey producers in the UK who can identify their honey from the flower or plant the nectar originated from, resulting in 16 different honeys. The source of the nectar dramatically affects the taste and texture of the honey. The business produces 15 tonnes of honey a year which is sold under the label ‘Leigh’s Bees’ throughout the UK from farm shops to prestigious London stores.
Sally said: “Accompanying Leigh on a normal working day enabled me to ask lots of questions and get a good handle on how his business is run. This ultimately enabled me to provide relevant and effective help and support. And yes, I did get stung but only once!”
Leigh checking nucleus hives
Sally in her beekeeper’s suit
As a result of the visit, Leigh’s Bees joined our ‘homegrown’ Profit & Progress Programme. Growth Hub advisers deliver the fully funded workshop series for businesses to enable them to build a personal business growth plan.
The target audience for the workshops are small businesses that need advice to expand or hire and also micro-businesses aiming for profitability. If you are an ambitious owner and would like to be considered for the next Profit & Progress Programme, please find out more if this is right for you and register. Check the next available series.
Read more about Leigh’s Bees.
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