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Going for growth, horticulture firm reaches record sales

A HORTICULTURE organisation has reached sales of £200,000 and taken on 11 new members of staff.

Horticultural Acumen, a social enterprise plant nursery in County Durham, was recently awarded loan of £80,000 from The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (TSELF) and has used the cash injection to invest in staff.

The loan has also made it possible for the organisation to provide training and employment opportunities to over 30 people, previously disadvantaged in the labour market because of long term unemployment, homelessness or an offending background.

Kate Welch, chief executive of Acumen, said: “The loan from TSELF has been invaluable, and has enabled us to operate a seasonal business and grow our customer base to over 50 customers including 36 garden centres, two wholesale markets and a number of local parish and town councils for their ‘Britain in Bloom’ entries.

“Without the loan, we could never have taken the risk to start this business, as we only make large sales for four months of the year so need cash to invest in the purchase of compost, seeds, small plants and packaging as well as cover the costs of wages and overheads during the winter as we grow for our peak of spring sales.”

Set up in September 2009, Horticultural Acumen is a ten acre nursery with over 2.5 acres of heated glasshouses growing vegetable packs and bedding plants for the wholesale market.

The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (TSELF) is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) and a registered charity aiming to support social enterprises engaged in social regeneration projects with the provision of loan finance.

TSELF has, to date, invested £8million in social enterprises across the UK, helping clients to generate job opportunities as well as training places.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .