Supplementary Business Plan for Additional Land and Buildings Lot 5a, Lot 5b and Lot 5c (posi on statement)
March 2015
1. Summary 2. Introduc on 3. About Su on Community Farm 4. Proposed Use of the Land and Buildings 5. Site Investment and Improvements 6. Tenancy Proposal 7. Financial Forecasts 8. Risk Register 9. Appendix 1: Cropping Plan 10. Appendix 2: Soil analysis 11. Appendix 3: Financial Projec ons and History 12. Appendix 4: Team Profile 13. Appendix 5: Farm Policies 14. Appendix 6: Insurance Cover 15. Appendix 7: Le ers of Support and Quotes
1. Summary
Su on Community Farm (SCF) is delighted to respond to this opportunity to tender for addi onal land and buildings. Our farm has had a successful start‐up phase and the opportunity to manage the neighbouring land and buildings is mely, enabling us to increase our social and environmental impacts while moving towards financial independence. A Triple Bo om Line Proposal
We are pleased that Surrey County Council are judging tenders on their social, environmental and economic impacts, as well as the rent offered. This is a commendable approach that we believe is sensible and economically beneficial in the long‐term.
SCF is an innova ve organisa on that seeks to have a strong social and environmental impact while balancing a viable financial model. Our work is centred around local food and community. In brief, this proposal covers all three pillars of sustainability:
Economic: This proposal offers Surrey County Council the opportunity to support a pioneering community farm that is improving the local economy. This proposal demonstrates how having addi onal land and buildings improves our financial resilience, making us less dependent on grant funding and increasing the local food available to the surrounding community.
Although a small farm, SCF has created four permanent full‐ me jobs that pay above the London Living Wage1. Our organisa on maintains a low pay ra o and we ensure our banking and insurance policies are conducted with ethically‐led companies2. We have previously conducted local economic research with Cranfield University in 2010 that showed for every £1 spent at the farm, £1.62 is generated for the local economy, while £1 spent at the local supermarket only provides £0.40 for the local economy3.
Social: Having addi onal land and buildings enhances our ability to con nue our social work. This includes hor cultural educa on, healthy ea ng, integra ng disadvantaged groups into mainstream society, and developing people’s skills so that they are be er able to find paid employment.
4 Environmental: SCF prac ces hor cultural with organic principles and our work increases local food supply. This tenancy proposal will enable us to significantly increase our produc on, achieving strong environmental benefits to the local community.
Resilient local food systems play a cri cal role in the future we need. Food is the largest component of our ecological footprint and our current food system is failing us at various levels5. At SCF, we do not claim to have all the answers, however we can offer a viable and deeply sustainable alterna ve to the cultural norm for our local community.
1 Currently £9.15/hour for London. 2 SCF uses Unity Trust for its banking, Naturesave for its insurance and Good Energy for its electricity. 3 For more informa on, visit: s u oncommunityfarm.org.uk/projects/research/past‐research‐projects 4 We are not cer fied organic, but follow the principles of not applying chemical synthe c pes cides or fer liser inputs. 5 For a useful overview, see: Foresight, T he Future of Food and Farming ( 2011). Government Office for Science, London. Page 1 of 31
2. Introduction
This Supplementary Business Plan details our proposal for managing a tenancy on addi onal land and buildings owned by Su on Council. These are described as:
● Lot 5a: Land and building South of 42 Telegraph Track; ● Lot 5b: Storage Building at 40a Telegraph Track; ● Lot 5c: Dwelling at 41 Telegraph Track (but not tendered for).
This Business Plan is an extension to SCF’s m ain Business Plan and the two documents should be read together to gain a full understanding of our strategic direc on.
With the addi onal land and buildings, we will increase our hor cultural produc on and take steps to start value‐added produc on ac vi es that increase the value of our products. As well as greater produc on capacity, the addi onal land and buildings will help us be be er equipped to support the local community through our educa onal ac vi es.
These are important steps that will help enable us to realise our vision as a vibrant, successful enterprise that is not dependent on charitable grants. This Supplementary Business Plan details what this ac vity will look like and provides a tenancy proposal for Surrey County Council.
We have carefully evaluated this opportunity and conducted a full business analysis that provides us with confidence about our capacity to take on these addi onal assets and make a success of them.
We look to establish mutually‐beneficial rela onships with local authori es. Therefore we welcome further discussions with Surrey County Council on how to best manage the land and buildings to support the community, provide social and environmental benefits, as well as a sound financial return.
Please note: SCF is expressing an interest in Lot 5a and 5b. Our predominant interest is the Land and building South of 42 Telegraph Track (Lot 5a) and we would accept an offer on this without securing Lot 5b. We have prepared a posi on statement regarding our interest in dwelling (5c) however our proposal does not include a formal offer.
A Sustainable Farming Assistant at SCF learning how to grow beans
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3. About Sutton Community Farm
Su on Community Farm is a social enterprise that started in 2010 in response to a community desire for more fresh, local food. Our purpose is to increase access to fresh, healthy, sustainable food while providing a shared space for people to cul vate skills, get exercise and make friends.
Our Farm has increased local food produc on and helped the surrounding community have an op on to buy local produce. This has helped lighten carbon and ecological footprints and boosted the local economy with job crea on and addi onal money circula ng locally.
Our farm has always been a community farm. We have welcomed people to join in, to learn and feel part of what we are doing. Food is able to bring people together in extraordinary ways and as such, our farm is a vehicle for a number of social benefits. This includes hor cultural educa on, improving community cohesion, land regenera on, healthy ea ng, integra ng disadvantaged groups into mainstream society, and developing people’s skills so that they are be er able to find paid employment.
Our ac vi es are described below, with rela on to the opportunity addi onal land offers us:
VegBoxes: the majority of our food growing is geared towards supplying our VegBox scheme where each week, we distribute our produce to the surrounding community. We also accept Healthy Start food vouchers for families on low‐incomes and donate bags to Su on Food Bank.
Due to our small scale, not all the produce supplied in our VegBox scheme comes from our farm and we buy in over £32,000 of produce each year from external producers, mostly within a 60 mile radius.
Addi onal land enables us to increase our produc on and reduce this procurement cost, making our community VegBox scheme even more local.
Wholesale: w e have an expanding client base of high‐end restaurants in central London that buy our produce. This includes Browns Hotel, Hix Soho, Petersham Nurseries, Oxo Tower and the Chilton Firehouse.
Addi onal land enables us to expand our restaurant supply business. This helps our farm to become more viable, suppor ng our community ac vi es.
Community Volunteering: v olunteers come to learn new skills, share knowledge, meet people and be inspired. We host regular volunteering sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays, typically with 35 volunteers per week.
As part of these ac vi es, we work with individuals that face situa ons that make their par cipa on in the ac vi es more difficult. This includes health problems, social and economic obstacles, cultural differences and educa onal difficul es. For example, 80% of our volunteers have a household income less than £21,000; 41% of our volunteers are of working age and unemployed; and 12% of our volunteers consider themselves to have a disability which affects their par cipa on. Furthermore, a large propor on of our volunteers suffer from a mental health condi on, such as depression, which o en means volunteers have low self‐esteem or confidence.
Therefore, many of our community volunteering ac vi es are considered as social and therapeu c hor culture. This is about using hor culture as a means to help improve people’s wellbeing and reduce mental health problems. Most volunteers
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are self‐referred however we do engage with Adult Social Services and other care providers to support people on our farm.
With addi onal storage facili es and land, our farm will be be er equipped to manage our social and therapeu c hor culture offering. There will be a wider variety of ac vi es and increased indoor space to provide comfort and shelter.
Appren ceships and Sustainable Farming Assistants: we run a 20 month long farming appren ceship with Capel Manor College as well as a Sustainable Farming Assistant programme that gives volunteers a more structured, prac cal experience, learning the basic principles of organic farming over a period of six months.
Addi onal land will enable us to teach people broader‐scale agriculture techniques, helping people to experience hor culture prac ce on a larger scale.
Educa on: schools and events: w e introduce hor culture to a wider audience across the community, including schools and the general public through open days, courses and events at the farm. Addi onal land benefits as described above.
Community Payback: s ince our farm started, we’ve worked with the London Proba on Service. We have weekly groups that assist with site maintenance as part of their community service hours.
This ac vity will expand to support the increased maintenance work involved in having addi onal assets.
Team Challenge Days: many organisa ons support their staff to volunteer in local projects. We invite groups to the farm to support our ac vi es. So far this has included teams from Reed Business, BioRegional, Su on Council and Subsea7 as well as businesses from central London, including Lloyds, Coca‐Cola, Google, AIG and the Royal College of Nursing.
With addi onal land and buildings, there will be new opportuni es to engage with local businesses to maintain and improve the site.
Our Impact
We monitor various aspects of our work to understand our impacts. For example, surveys show that the farm has helped our volunteers to:
● Lead a healthier, happier lifestyle: 96% agree or strongly agree. ● Have more confidence in growing food: 88% agree or strongly agree. ● Develop new skills: 100% agree or strongly agree. ● Eat a healthier diet: 80% ● Improve their self‐esteem and/or confidence: 83%
Sta s cs serve their purpose, however our impact is some mes best communicated through the quotes we receive from volunteers6 and customers. Please refer to our selec on of quotes and Le ers of Support in Appendix 5.
6 Please note that some names have been changed to respect the privacy of volunteers. Page 4 of 31
The integra on of social and therapeu c work on our farm, as well as the community‐led nature of the project has enabled SCF to previously access grants from Team London, the Ernest Cook Trust, Comic Relief, Big Lo ery and the Tudor Trust. It should be noted that these grants are typically short term and accessing them is highly compe ve. Our ambi on is for long‐term sustainability and we are moving towards being independent from grants.
On a borough‐wide level, SCF has led in forming the Su on Food Forum, a forum that shares knowledge and takes a coordinated approach to addressing food‐related issues in the borough. SCF also has good rela onships with Su on Council. Although we do not receive or seek grant support from Su on Council, we are included in the Council’s One Planet Ac on Plan and are engaged with various departments including Opportunity Su on, a programme that seeks to increase investment and support new businesses in Su on.
4. Proposed Use of the Land and Buildings
Lot 5a: Land and building South of 42 Telegraph Track
The land South of 42 Telegraph Track will be used for hor cultural produc on, using broader‐scale approaches than the more intensive, human‐scale hor culture prac ced at our farm on 40a Telegraph Track. As always, SCF will prac ce hor culture following organic principles, with no chemical synthe c pes cides or fer liser inputs.
Produc on will concentrate on displacing some of the vegetables we buy in for our VegBox scheme (es mated at 42%) as well as produc on for our restaurant clients. Table 1 summarises the ini al crop rota on planned. A full breakdown of crop income and the end markets is given in Appendix 1.
These numbers are based on our experience coupled with yield data from the Soil Associa on. Please refer to the Financial Forecast sec on to understand the expenditures related to this produc on and their placement in our wider farm finances.
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Year 1 Crops Bed area Income, £ m2 acres Brassicas: P urple sprou ng broccoli 3,920 1.0 £8,980 Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, Chard Alliums: O nions, leeks 3,867 1.0 £5,400 Cucurbits: s quash and courge es 5,067 1.3 £3,550 Potatoes 1,280 0.5 £2,880 Sweetcorn 240 0.1 £540 Ar chokes 960 0.2 £2,160 TOTAL 16,101 4.0 £23,510 Table 1: Summary of crop rota on plan. Please see full plan in the Appendix.
SCF closely monitors sales and harvest data and each Winter, we review the season’s produc on by synthesising this informa on, taking into account future crop demand, together with other factors such as labour and climate. This helps us maintain an efficient produc on based on the demand of our customers.
For beds not under vegetable produc on, SCF will plant a green manure to help build a fer le soil for subsequent cul va on. In future years, produc on will be expanded to make full use of the land and operate a growing rota on that supports the soil to increase in fer lity. Figure 1 shows an example of our 2015 growing rota on on our current site at 40a Telegraph Track. On the new land, the beds will have a larger dimension and a more mechanised tractor‐based approach will be used to grow the crops.
SCF recently conducted an independent laboratory soil analysis across our farm and we included a sample from Lot 5a. A copy of this result is given in Appendix 2. This analysis helps understand the soil fer lity and guides us in our methods of cul va on.
Figure 1: SCF’s growing rota on for 2015 on the land at 40a Telegraph Track
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Building: proposed usage
The building that comes with this land is an extremely useful asset. It will mainly be used for equipment storage including our tractor. We will also build an internal (non‐electric) cold store within the barn for storing produce such as potatoes and squash. At present our storage facili es are very limited and with increased produc on, this will be an essen al requirement.
This ac vity falls under the B8 Planning Use Class. This addi onal storage capacity enables us to keep both sites dier and safer for volunteers and visitors. Lot 5b: Storage Building (40a Telegraph Track)
The Storage Building (Lot 5b) offers our farm a valuable opportunity to expand our products and services. In the immediate term, SCF will use the building for storage, deliveries and as a VegBag packing and prepara on space. This will be valuable as our current packing space is limited in size and must also operate as a mul ‐func onal space for volunteers, groups, mee ngs, educa on and office work.
SCF will engage with Su on Council’s Planning Department and Environmental Health to ensure this usage is fully permi ed and carried out safely, in accordance with our policies and food hygiene standards.
SCF’s current packing area in the VegShed.
In the longer term, we intend to develop the Storage Building to support value‐added produc on and/or be a new office hub for Su on Community Farm. Here is a summary of these proposals:
FoodLab for Crea ng a FoodLab will require transforming the area into a hygienic food Value‐Added prepara on area which will be achieved by building an internal unit so that the floor Produce and walls are easy to clean and manage.
Turning our raw produce into value‐added products will help increase our income. We are currently iden fying the most suitable and viable product lines to phase in. For example, chutneys and jams, sauces, honey from our hives, popcorn, dried herbs and teas are being considered.
SCF is also connected with a number of startups and small businesses that produce food products, some of whom are looking for a new produc on space. This includes our baker (S cky Mi s Kitchen), a healthy juice drink start‐up and a herbal tea producer. A FoodLab may be a space that can be hired by local small‐scale producers,
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suppor ng more local food produc on.
SCF is currently working with an external consultant to analyse the income opportuni es for value‐added produc on and is also preparing an applica on to Big Lo ery’s Big Poten al Fund to help develop the business plan and prepare a community share offer. We will find out in May 2015 whether we are successful with this applica on. We an cipate that se ng up a FoodLab will require a capital investment of £20‐40k. This investment would be fully costed and involve a separate business plan. We would keep SCC informed of this work as it progresses.
Planning implica ons: t his ac vity will fall under B1 or B2 Usage and SCF will ensure permissions are appropriately secured.
Cafe, New office This op on will shi our current Office to the Storage Building and convert it into a space and Shop welcoming frontage for Su on Community Farm. This could include a Community Farm Cafe and Shop.
We o en have enquires as to whether we have a farm shop on site. Due to our small size and the focus on our VegBox scheme, a shop is not something we have explored properly un l recently. With addi onal produc on from the new land and the ability to stock dried goods and chilled produce, a farm shop is becoming more viable. A cafe will complement a shop and offer a secondary space for our visitors and volunteers. In addi on, we have previously held many successful pop‐up dinners at the farm for our customers and supporters and this building could be a suitable venue to support these events.
We have conducted some market research already. In March 2015, we did a survey asking our friends, supporters and customers whether we should open a Community Farm Shop7. We had a strong response from 207 people that provided a large amount of data that helps us further understand the opportunity. This survey also included several pledges for volunteer support and dona ons. We are now invi ng people to a public mee ng at the end of April where we hope to form a Farm Shop steering group. This explora on is being supported by the Plunket Founda on’s Our Urban Shop programme and will lead to a suppor ng grant if a viable business plan is generated from the process.
Learning from the history of our neighbours, Heritage Nurseries, we understand that it is possible to have the foo all required to sustain a cafe. Therefore the op on to have this on site is being kept open while we conduct a full business analysis. However we are also exploring the local High Streets.
Planning implica ons: t he shop and cafe ac vity will require change of use planning permission to A1 and A3. With our strong reputa on in Su on and the high social, environmental and economic impact of our project, we feel confident that planning permission could be obtainable for this enterprise.
7 The survey is available at: b it.ly/su onfarmshopsurvey. A summary of results are available on request. Page 8 of 31
Lot 5c: Dwelling at 41 Telegraph Track: Posi on Statement
The property at 41 Telegraph Track has been restored into excellent condi on and we are grateful for Surrey County Council’s investment into the property.
We carefully explored the opportunity of leasing the property at 41 Telegraph Track but decided that at the current me, it is not a viable opportunity. However we felt that it would be beneficial to share our interests in the property for future reference. There are two op ons we explored:
Use by employees or Our original interest was for the property to be available for an employee or appren ces appren ce(s). There are many advantages to living next door to the farm such as the reduced commu ng costs and me, and increased security.
We engaged with our employees about the dwelling however in the present circumstances, there was not interest. Our new appren ce, star ng in May, has not been recruited yet so we were unable to explore this opportunity.
Use by long‐term work SCF has recently become an accredited host organisa on for the EU experience placements Erasmus+ programme. With this status, we are now working in partnership with an organisa on called GEB‐London that organises work experience placements with students from across Europe. We are preparing an applica on for a three year programme that will regularly bring small groups of students to the farm on work placements. During their me they will improve their English while learning hor cultural skills. We piloted this with success in 2014 with a group of 6 Czech students.
If we are successful with this programme, the property would serve as ideal accommoda on for the students and it would be a financially viable arrangement for our farm as students are given an accommoda on s pend to cover their placement.
While the above op ons are not currently viable, we did consider the op on of securing the dwelling and suble ng it under an AST. We spoke to several local estate agents to help determine the valua on, cos ngs and management op ons. However we concluded that this was too much of a financial risk and an unnecessary administra ve burden.
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5. Site Investment and Improvements
SCF will make produc ve use of the land and buildings and carry out all maintenance as required, while making improvements that increase the value of the land.
As we make produc ve use of the land with the local community fully engaged, we believe our farm creates a posi ve presence in the area and this can act as an anchor for a rac ng a new genera on of future agricultural enterprises to the smallholdings.
The table below summarises how we wish to invest into the holdings to improve them for the future:
We will bring this land into full hor cultural produc on using organic principles. With the applica on of compost and a carefully managed growing rota on, the soil will increase in fer lity over the years. Successful organic hor culture requires a long‐term investment into the soil and it for this reason that SCF are interested in securing a longer‐term tenancy for both areas of land it manages.
Lot 5a: Land and building The large building on the land will undergo various improvements as we south of 42 Telegraph Track dy‐up the area and bring it back into use. We will need to improve security to the building and conduct landscaping around the barn and edges of the site to make it more invi ng and safer for visitors.
The UK has been experiencing biodiversity losses at an alarming rate. SCF will con nue to prac ce hor culture that also aims to improve biodiversity. As an example, on our current site, with help from volunteers and school groups, we have improved biodiversity by plan ng hedgerow, keeping bees, leaving areas of long grass and establishing small ponds around the edges of the site. This has made a no cable difference and provided opportuni es for educa on with local schools and visitors. We also work with Su on Council’s Biodiversity team to conduct wildlife surveys on our site, cataloging habits and species and making recommenda ons for be er management. We will con nue this approach with management on the new land and update the Land use and Wildlife sec on of our O ne Planet Ac on Plan accordingly.
The poten al investments into the building have been described in the previous sec on. The maintenance and investment may benefit future owners however any long‐term or permanent improvements will be agreed with Surrey County Council and SCF will be prepared to return the facility to its original state at the end of the tenancy.
Lot 5b: Storage Building (40a Telegraph Track)
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SCF has proven experience in managing its current tenancy, making full produc ve use of the land, establishing rain water collec on ponds and securing addi onal planning permissions for agricultural buildings.
SCF is currently working on an investment strategy for the old glasshouses. With agreement from Surrey Council, SCF would like to remove the derelict glasshouses and fully renovate the remaining glasshouses for use as a food growing and educa onal area. SCF is looking towards securing funding from Landfill Tax providers to support this work ‐ an appropriate grant provider for building renova on for communi es. Our exis ng site: 40a This investment would be of huge benefit to future tenants on the site, Telegraph Track increasing the value significantly.
6. Tenancy Proposal
SCF has made excellent progress in moving towards independence from grants. For a small‐scale community farm, our project has made impressive leaps in a sector that is largely grant dependent. We put this down to good planning, good governance, strong values, excellent community engagement and commercial competence.
While we have had a successful start‐up phase, margins for vegetable produc on are ght and our organisa on must carefully navigate the next phase. To be profitable, maintaining the status quo is not viable and innova on, diversifica on and scaling are needed for our long‐term sustainability. Taking on addi onal land and moving towards value‐added produc on is therefore a key opportunity for our strategic development and success.
We are aware that local land prices are inflated by the equestrian sector and our proximity to central London. We intend for our proposal to be compe ve while being sensible and grounded in the reality of what we can afford. Based on this, Table 2 details our financial proposal for the tenancies:
Area Annual rent Proposed terms
Lot 5a: Land and building £4,038 A Farm Business Tenancy for 5 years. south of 42 Telegraph Track (£600 / acre) Please note that SCF are interested in long‐term security for our project’s future and therefore we have interests in discussions about securing a longer‐term lease (5‐25 years).
Lot 5b: Storage Building (40a Year 1: £1,900 A business tenancy under the Landlord and Telegraph Track) Year 2 onwards: £4,200 Tenant Act 1954 for a period of 5 years with a mid‐point break clause. Our proposal is staged to reflect the raising of finance and me required to secure income streams related to this asset.
TOTAL Year 1: £5,938 Year 2 onwards: £8,238 Table 2: Financial Proposal for Tenancy
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7. Financial Forecasts
Table 3 provides a summary forecast of the income and expenditures associated with the addi onal land and building for 2015‐16 and 2016‐17. A more detailed monthly breakdown is presented in Appendix 3 (Table 8a and 8b).
Financial year Financial year CASH FLOW ACTIVITY FORECAST 1 Apr 15 ‐ 31 Mar 16 1 Apr 16 ‐ 31 Mar 17 INCOME Wholesale 12,520 13,520 Internal sales (for VegBox) 8,990 9,990 Value added produc on (TBC) 0 ‐ TOTAL 21,510 23,508 COST OF SALES Seeds 2,000 2,000 Packaging 300 200 Diesel for Tractor 800 800 Addi onal Equipment Maintenance 200 200 Compost 1,000 1,000 Deliveries 1,676 2,514 TOTAL 6,522 6,996 OVERHEADS Rent: Addi onal Land and Building (5a) 4,038 4,038 Rent: Storage Building (5b) 1,900 4,200 Deposit and Legal Fees 2,485 0 U li es (water, electricity) 1,200 1,200 Capital investments: Steerage hoe 750 0 Rotovator 750 0 Building storage area 1,000 250 Water infrastructure 1,000 0 Nets and weights 1,580 0 TOTAL 14,703 9,688 WAGES Addi onal Labour Support (Tractor) 2,070 2,070 TOTAL 2,070 2,070
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 23,294 18,754
OPERATING PROFIT (1,784) 4,754 Table 3: A standalone Forecast Income and Expenditures for the new business ac vity
By integra ng the forecast in Table 3 into SCF’s main financial forecast, Tables 4 and 5 provide a summary of our annual income and expenditure forecasts for 2015‐16 and 2016‐17. They are presented showing the impact that the addi onal land and buildings has on income and expenditure. Please refer to Appendix 3 (Table 9a and 9b) for more detailed monthly Cash Flow summaries.
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Table 4: 2015‐16 Income and Expenditure Forecast
Table 5: 2016‐17 Income and Expenditure Forecast
The forecasts in Table 4 and 5 do not show the significant difference having addi onal land brings to our farm. However it also demonstrates the ght margins in vegetable produc on, where doubling the land area does not a ribute to a doubling in profit. It should be noted that the addi onal land and buildings are opening up a huge poten al for SCF. For example, the income from value‐added produc on ac vity is not present in these forecasts, however we know that profit margins are more a rac ve than unprocessed vegetable sales. Tables 4 and 5 show how our grant funding requirement is also reducing each year. For the current financial year, grant dependency is approximately 30%; for the year prior to this, it was 57%. Addi onal land and buildings play an important role in this. Financial History and Security
The last three years of Annual Accounts are presented in Appendix 3 (Table 7). In 2013‐14, SCF received a Local Food Lo ery grant that supported some start‐up costs for the farm. This enabled SCF to build some reserves from our sales which is noted as the surplus of £48,766 in the Year ending 31.3.14. This was an
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important step for SCF in gaining opera ng security, so that we can weather circumstances of crop failure and limited grants. Our cash reserves are not extensive however should offer the landlord confidence in our security and financial acumen. 8. Risk Register
Risk Ac ons to reduce risk
Poor yields due to unexpected weather ● Maintain cash reserves to weather these events events and/or poor management → ● Ensure workload is well managed and volunteers SCF does not achieve income forecasts and groups are coordinated to support the workload; ● Prac ce a good crop rota on to increase soil fer lity; ● Use polytunnels to reduce impacts of severe weather events.
Difficulty achieving VegBox or ● Ensure scenario planning considered in team Restaurant sales targets → farm does planning for team resourcing if the farm faces not achieve income forecasts economic difficul es. ● Close monitoring of key performance indicators for produc on and sales. ● Con nually update the marke ng plan based on feedback.
Volume of produce from the farm Seasonality is recognised in our cash flow forecasts varies through the year, crea ng that also forecasts our bank balance. The Farm has poten al cash flow problems established cash reserves to manage any problems resul ng from fluctua ons through the year.
The leaseholding (land) is not secure ● SCF to have con nued engagement with Surrey post‐2019 County Council to establish a strong rela onship. ● Con nue to ensure strong support for the farm across the community and within local and central government. Recognising, monitoring and promo ng its value beyond financial measures.
Farms are dangerous places and the ● Preven on measures maintained through regular risk of accidents is high. risk assessment and a strong health and safety policy, resul ng in necessary management ac ons such as training, guidance, signage and awareness. ● Ensure Emergency First Aid Training for all staff (completed in 2013). ● Insurance policy managed and updated annually to ensure appropriate cover.
Please refer to SCF’s main Business Plan for a more comprehensive Risk Register.
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Appendix 1: Crop Plan
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Appendix 2: Soil analysis
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Appendix 3: Financial Projections and History
Financial History
Table 7 provides the summary Income and Expenditure from the last three years of accounts. Full sets of accounts are available on request.
Table 7: Financial History: Annual Accounts History
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Cash Flow Statements
Table 8a: 2015‐16 Standalone cash forecast for the management of the addi onal land and buildings
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Table 8b: 2016‐17 Standalone cash forecast for the management of the addi onal land and buildings
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Table 9a: 2015‐16 SCF Cash Flow Statement including addi onal land and buildings
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Table 9b: 2016‐17 SCF Cash Flow Statement including addi onal land and buildings
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Appendix 4: Team Profile
Samuel Smith Sam started managing SCF in 2012 and previously worked as a General Manager Sustainability Consultant for local charity, BioRegional, delivering various and Elected Board Member projects in the community (2008‐2012). In 2011, Sam took a break to spend a year in Kenya, helping launch a successful renewable energy company (2011) while con nuing consultancy for BioRegional. Sam’s academic background is a BEng Medical Engineering and an MSc in Sustainable Energy and the Environment.
Sam has extensive volunteering and volunteer management experience including being Chair of SVC, the largest student‐led volunteering charity in the UK, and extensive volunteering experience. Currently, Sam volunteers as a trained mentor for MAPS, a local project in Su on and is also a founding member and Treasurer of Hackbridge Ecology Park, a community enterprise that is working to take an underused and neglected 20 hectare site in Hackbridge, owned by Su on Council and turn it into a vibrant, community‐led and governed ecology park.
Relevant qualifica ons: Emergency First Aid, Food Safety Level II. Awards: Leading Wales Award: Young Leader Winner (2008), Su on Community Leadership Award Finalist (2013), LSDC London Leader (2013/14).
Joris Gunawardena Since 2012, Joris has managed the produc on at SCF, transforming the Head of Produc on project to grow over £40,000 of produce annually while suppor ng and Elected Board Member volunteers and providing hor cultural educa on. Previously, Joris managed the produc on at South Farm Ltd (a smallholding with 7 acres of vegetable produc on and 800m2 protected cropping) from 2008 to 2012. At South Farm, Joris had experience of overseeing year‐round produc on, as well as coordina ng a vegetable box scheme and selling of produce wholesale to restaurants and other vegetable box schemes.
Charlo e Steel Charlo e has a Masters degree in Leadership for Sustainable Community Coordinator and Development with Forum for the Future, and a BSc in Interna onal Finance Coordinator Rela ons from the London School of Economics. Before joining SCF, Charlo e worked in London’s ethical finance sector.
In 2012 Charlo e began volunteering at Su on Community Farm and in September was offered a Growing Appren ceship. Charlo e now supports the Produc on at SCF, and oversees the Bookkeeping and Community Coordina on.
Relevant Qualifica ons: C ity & Guilds Bookkeeping, Tractor Qualifica on, City & Guilds Hor culture Level II and Adult Teaching AET Qualifica on.
Carlota Sanches With a passionate interest in food sovereignty, Carlota started
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VegBox Coordinator volunteering at the farm in 2013 and started working for SCF, suppor ng the development of our VegBox scheme. Carlota is responsible for customer management, designing VegBoxes, wri ng weekly recipes, newsle ers, social media engagement and blogging.
Previously Carlota worked as a research assistant and translator for a member of the House of Lords and in events management in Portugal.
Robyn Knight Having volunteered under the Sustainable Farming Assistant programme Sales & Marke ng at SCF in 2014 and now a permanent member of staff as of this month Representa ve (March), Robyn is the newest addi on to the team, on her mission to work with food growing and supplying on a more local scale. She comes directly from Abel & Cole, where she coordinated canvassing teams and events, working between the Canvassing and Marke ng departments to establish an acquisi on‐focused presence away from the doorstep, and her efforts resulted in over 1,000 new customers in six months.
Non‐execu ve Directors
Mark Gordon Mark Gordon is an award‐winning entrepreneur, interna onal marketeer Chair and consultant. Mark has held senior posi ons with some of Europe’s most respected corporates. Most recently, Mark’s work with Feather Down Farms has given him hands‐on experience of running an opera on from top‐to‐bo om and of winning awards from Mumsnet and other social media in the process.
Diane Harris Diane joined SCF’s Management Commi ee in 2015, bringing with her Secretary her strong legal and governance exper se. Diane is a qualified solicitor and since 2005 she has been Chief Opera ng Officer for the Private Infrastructure Development Group, a US$400m mul ‐donor programme, providing legal and technical support and advice to overseas development projects.
Diane has experience advising on company and commercial issues, including trusts, funds (including loan guarantee and equity investment funds), SME financing, grant and loan administra on, corporate governance and company law.
Malcolm Sargent Malcolm founded Malsar Kest in 1977, one of London and the UK’s most
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Treasurer reliable catering supplies and food packaging wholesale distributors. Malcolm brings extensive experience of business management to SCF.
Laura Jean Sargent Laura previously worked at SCF as the Sales, Marke ng and Branding Elected Board Member Manager. Her work helped SCF to establish a consistent and a rac ve brand. Laura also worked extensively to develop SCF’s online ordering system and she is now an Elected Board Member.
In 2014, Laura founded B ee Kind and Dine, a unique dining experience that adds a subtle buzz of educa on to an evening of fine dining, with a menu curated around sustainably sourced ingredients by top London chef, Joe Fox. She also works as a Copywriter, Editorial Contributor and Subeditor at S ecret Escapes.
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Appendix 5: Farm Policies
Su on Community Farm maintains a number of policies that help underpin the professional management of our enterprise. Most of these policies are publically available via our website. Please contact us if you you have any difficulty opening these policies:
Policy name Public Link Environmental Policy / One Planet Ac on Plan: h p://bit.ly/SCF‐OPAP Equal Opportuni es h p://bit.ly/SCF‐Equal‐Op Confiden ality and Data Protec on Policy h p://bit.ly/1Clp2y6 Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures h p://bit.ly/1bbBrtP Health & Safety Policy including Risk Assessment h p://bit.ly/SCF‐HandS Safeguarding Children Policy h p://bit.ly/1GLtFAC Volunteer Policy and Code of Conduct h p://bit.ly/18S6I3g
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Appendix 6: Insurance Cover
The le er below provides confirma on of SCF’s Public and Employer’s Liability cover with Naturesave Insurance.
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Appendix 7: Letters of Support and Quotes
In an cipa on of the availability of addi onal land, we collected le ers of support from notable people in our community. These were collected in March 2014, at a period when Surrey Council advised the land was to be adver sed imminently.
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Le er of support from Susanna Bennet, Chief Execu ve, Su on Centre for the Voluntary Sector, s ent via email (19/03/2014)
I am wri ng in support of Su on Community Farm and their applica on to take on addi onal land.
Since their establishment in 2010 the farm has developed as a real asset to the community in Su on, and has increasingly involved local residents both as volunteers and as customers. Currently more than 30 volunteers a week benefit from the opportunity to work on the farm and learn new skills, and children and young people from local schools are experiencing the pleasures of growing food on land in their own borough and then finding out how to cook it.
The farm has developed excellent rela onships with other voluntary/community organisa ons across Su on e.g. their project with the Su on Foodbank which enables the most vulnerable people and families to benefit from fresh food; their willingness to share their experiences of crowdfunding to help other local voluntary organisa ons; and their support for the Social Enterprise Network.
Having the farm in Su on has also given a real focus and energy to the work to encourage local food growing and healthy ea ng, and has led to plans for a local Food Partnership with all the addi onal benefits this will bring to our community.
Su on CVS fully supports Su on Community Farm and wishes them success with their plans to develop and expand.
Susanna Benne , Chief Execu ve, Su on Centre for the Voluntary Sector
Le ers of support from Volunteer Centre Su on, s ent via email (22/04/2014)
“We were able to work with Su on Community Farm last year in order to give young people Not In Educa on, Employment or Training an opportunity to give something back to their community. The people at Su on Community Farm were so accommoda ng and passionate about what they do. Our young people le having had a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable experience, inspired about the value of hard work. “ “What Su on Community Farm do is essen al for One Planet living, and the passion from those working at the farm is infec ous.” Ben Webb, NEET Outreach Worker, Volunteer Centre Su on.
“Su on Community Farm have an excellent track record in the recruitment, deployment and management of volunteers and have drawn on my services to develop their policies and procedures. I par cularly like the collec ve and democra c nature of their work environment with people who are highly commi ed to their green and sustainable ethos. In my opinion, they are just the sort of organiza on we should be suppor ng and partnering with.” Mar n Faiers, Good Prac ce Consultant, Volunteer Centre Su on
“Su on Community Farm are true builders of community, and were kind enough to donate a wide variety of salad leaves to support a recent breadmaking workshop that Su on Shares was running to develop social connec ons. This generosity and willingness to help out is typical of the Farm’s workers and volunteers.” Ma Li le, Su on Shares Timebank Coordinator, Volunteer Centre Su on
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Quotes from volunteers and customers
“I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for “Thank you all so much for giving me such a great making feel so welcome, coming here has gone a experience over the three months that I long way to helping me restore my sense of volunteered at the farm. The atmosphere was humour and make me feel valued at a par cularly always fun and friendly and everyone was always difficult me in my life.” happy to take the me to explain the hows and Sarah, 2013 whys ‐ from the wider sustainable farming ideals to the spo ng of side shoots on tomatoes!” “Time spent volunteering at Su on Community Fred, 2013 farm has really helped towards li ing my low mood. A combina on of the ac ve outdoor work, “It's exhilara ng to work at Su on Community being around nature, fresh air, new people and Farm, whatever the weather! I've met some feeling needed as part of a team has been a really awesome people there, and the whole experience important way of managing and improving my is making me much more aware of our connec on depression. I always go home a er a day at the to the world around us ‐ and the need to farm feeling deeply sa sfied, energised and seem strengthen it ‐ in ways I couldn't even have to sleep be er that night, se ng me in be er imagined before. I'm some mes physically stead for the remainder of my week.” knackered at the end of a full day's work, but my heart is full and it's great to be able to contribute I try to volunteer regularly every Wednesday as I to something so posi ve and so necessary.” find it's good for me to have a set rou ne and as Golly, 2014 I've begun to build friendships and new skills there, it's massively helped improve my self esteem too. “Congratula ons Su on Community Farm on the Having tried various things over the years to miracle of the year ‐ my daughter doesn't eat improve my depression including CBT, one‐to‐one vegetables, yet she ate your kale!“ therapy, an depressants and nutri onal therapy ‐ Stella, 2014 all of which have helped to some extent ‐ being at the farm seems the most natural way of improving “SCF is a fine example of peri‐urban farming and my mental health whilst socialising, being ac ve the organisa on is to be highly commended on the and learning new skills for the future.” strategic approach taken to integra ng values, Helen, 2014 principles, and structure.” Naturesave Insurance, 2014 “We love the vegetables ‐ the taste is no ceably be er than the supermarket and it's good to know “Both Mar n and I would like to say a massive it's all grown so nearby. Also, the leaflet is so thank you to everyone at Su on Community Farm useful ‐ especially in iden fying the more unusual for being great hosts. I would like to thank you also items!” for all your help, ps and insider knowledge in Sian, 2013 regards to crea ng a viable community based hor culture business.” “Thank you so much for Saturday, we had a Adrian Ford, Ealing Mencap brilliant me, it was lovely to see the farm and we loved picking the veg and the cookery demo was “I am really pleased with this service and am happy brilliant, has certainly given me ideas, I used one of that I am ea ng season local food at an affordable the recipes that evening!” price. I have been approached by Abel and Cole at Miranda , 2014 fairs and prefer to use for service for its locality, impact on the community and quality of produce “Even in the dead of Winter, my Wednesday farm and service. At some point I plan to volunteer and day is the highlight of my week!” become more involved.” Kirsty, 2013 Pamela, 2014
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