Overview

The development of the South East Cornwall Rural Business Centre was made possible with the help of funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (2014-2020), LEADER programme.

An application for funding was submitted in the autumn of 2018, and funding was granted in the spring of 2019.

Objectives

The South East Cornwall Rural Business Centre’s objectives are threefold:

1. to provide an essential focus on rural skills development by offering a range of much needed land-based sector training and learning opportunities, which will in turn enable employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship within the land-based sector and assist in the rural development of South East Cornwall.
2. to offer flexible spaces for small business conferences and meetings, as well as community use.
3. To nurture entrepreneurialism and support new and small business through the provision of shared serviced workshop/office spaces for use by local rural & land-based businesses.

Background

Antony Pedigree Farms is an in hand farming enterprise of the Antony Estate based largely upon arable crops over 1,200 acres. As the farm has developed and with increased mechanisation the traditional farm buildings at West Antony Farm had become redundant and although maintained, had no farming purpose other than incidental storage. As part of our Estate Strategy and considering the future of medium sized farming enterprises we needed to plan for a diversification of income as well as encourage much needed rural skills training and the provision of meeting and community spaces for local rural business and community organisations. Therefore, the South East Cornwall Rural Business Centre at West Antony Farm in Antony Village represents a diversification of our Antony Pedigree Farms operation.

Facilities

This Centre provides an essential focus on rural skills development by offering a range of much needed land-based sector training and learning opportunities, which will in turn enable employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship within the land-based sector and assist in the rural development of south east Cornwall. Our focus is on preparing for a post brexit rural economy both in terms of sustaining the land-based sector but also ensuring that the requirement for jobs is met with appropriate locally available skills training.

We see ourselves as the custodians of the resources we have and are keen that we use them for the benefit of our rural communities and rural business development, working with key partners and stakeholders locally. Our contacts with the small and micro rural businesses we work with, suggest the need for shared serviced office/workshop areas and meeting spaces and the complex incorporates this.

With ample naturally screened car parking, the redesigned facilities fit seamlessly into what is a traditional farm complex alongside our current farming operation.