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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 Administrator

With a wealth of experience from previous roles in administration in the Island rural sector, Estee will be coordinating and administrating the work of the Wight Rural Hub and offering support and signposting to Island farmers and land managers. 

Graham Biss: Natural Enterprise

 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.  

Robyn Munt: Wight Farm Admin

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 will be leading on the program of events and interventions directly with Island farmers & land managers. 

Steering Group

Representatives from the Islands rural and farming groups and organisations support the Wight Rural Hub team to ensure that the delivery is in line with the needs of the Island community.  Its members are: 

• Countryside Landowners & Business Assoc
• IW Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• IW Grain
• IW Institue of Agric Secretaries
• IW Young Farmers
• National Farmers Union South East
• Natural Enterprise
• Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society

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