Anglia Farmers celebrates 99 year investment
A big crowd gathered when National Farmers Union president Peter Kendall performed the official opening of Anglia Farmers’ new offices just outside Norwich.
Negotiating the purchasing requirements on behalf of 1700 farmers and rural businesses, Anglia Farmers has invested £1.3million to transform a redundant dairy unit into a high specification office development for its workforce of 60 people.
Located at Honingham Thorpe near Colton in a farm and rural business complex, Anglia Farmers now owns the property on a 99-year building lease.
At the opening ceremony - which was attended by members, Anglia Farmers directors and staff, former directors of predecessor groups such as Mid-Norfolk Farmers, Loddon Farmers, Marcam & MDS Supplies and Kings Lynn Farmers – NFU president Peter Kendall said:
"I’m delighted to be opening Anglia Farmers’ new premises today.
"The NFU is a strong advocate of farmers working together to reduce costs and improve profitability and Anglia Farmers is a prime example of the benefits this can bring.
"I’m also pleased to see these modern offices in the heart of the Norfolk countryside. It shows how new life can be brought to redundant farm buildings, helping the rural economy, and they are a great credit to everyone involved."
The Right Reverend Graham James, the Lord Bishop of Norwich – whose Diocese is a member of Anglia Farmers with 70 parish sub-accounts - was also in attendance and said:
"Anglia Farmers is an exemplary organisation. It shows how innovative farmers have been in working together and providing benefits for the wider rural community. Now it has the premises to match its imaginative spirit."
Architects for the project Jo Willis and Lydia Russell-Demisse of Artica and project manager Andy Garrod of building contractors H Smith & Sons were praised for their work.
"Initial discussions for this project started three years ago," said Clarke Willis, chief executive of Anglia Farmers. "But building work only began in March this year and everything has gone to plan. We used our considerable buying power - based on an annual turnover of over £140 million - to secure building materials and keep costs down.
"Our role is to source a whole range of inputs for our members. Internal communication is vital to deliver a first class service and to develop excellence in agricultural purchasing. Our new premises gives us have superb working conditions with up-to-the-minute technology and we are all reaping the benefits already."
The new premises also house woodchip co-operative Anglia Woodfuels, the Eastern Machinery Ring and agronomy group Prime Agriculture.
