About us
Who is the Wight Rural Hub?
The Wight Rural Hub team are longstanding members of the Island’s rural community and have a passion for supporting Island rural businesses to prosper.
Hub Team
Estee Phillimore: Wight Rural Hub Manager
With a wealth of experience from previous roles in administration and office management within the Island’s rural sector, Estee manages the delivery of Wight Rural Hub projects and events, coordinates communications across our channels and oversees the day-to-day running of our website and social media. She continues to offer valuable support and signposting to Island farmers and land managers.
Graham Biss: Natural Enterprise Managing Director
As the Managing Director of Natural Enterprise, Graham has vast experience in the delivery of rural support projects, having been programme manager for both LEADER and Rural Fund programmes. He now oversees the Wight Rural Hub project, ensuring it delivers meaningful support to the Island’s farming and land-based community.
Robyn Munt: Farm Wight Independent Consultant & Facilitator
With over 10 years’ experience supporting farm businesses on the Island, Robyn has a broad knowledge of farm policy, schemes and their application in practice. Robyn now consults, continuing to support the farming community in a specialist advisory capacity.
What Does the Wight Rural Hub Do?
- Supports Island farmers and land managers in their pursuit of sustainable business growth
- Promotes the work and events of Island rural stakeholders
- Facilitates cooperation between farmers & land managers
- Collaborates with stakeholders for the benefit of Island farmers
- Complements the existing good work of Island rural stakeholders
- Signposts to technical advisors & consultants for further business support
Wight Rural Hub Objectives are to Help:
- Farmers and land managers be clearer about what the Agricultural Transition will mean for their business
- Farmers and land managers feel more confident to make decisions about what to do with their business during the Agricultural Transition
- Farmers and land managers become more resilient, competitive, innovative and productive in an environmentally sustainable way. Supporting growth opportunities and investment plans
- Champion key important strategic projects, which are important to individual businesses, e.g. establishment of an Island abattoir
- Support farmers and land managers mental and physical health and wellbeing, ensuring they realise they are not alone
- Monitor the impact of FFRF support to ensure the maximum benefit is delivered; enabling farmers and land managers to understand the changes taking place and to proactively support changes to business models
£150 Million Capital Grants Offer Reopens to Support Farmers Across the Isle of Wight
Farmers and land managers across the Isle of Wight have a fresh opportunity to access vital funding as Defra reopens its Capital Grants offer, making £150 million available to support sustainable farming and environmental improvements. This funding is part of the...