September 2015 Rural Business Awards

RBA-logo-highCOUNTY FIRM REAPS ACCOLADE AS RURAL BUSINESS AWARDS FINALIST

One of the UK’s most innovative manufacturers and suppliers of eco-friendly trackway (temporary roadways), pedestrian walkways and portable flooring has just been announced as a finalist in this year’s prestigious Rural Business Awards, launched to recognise the people and products behind the UK’s thriving rural business sector.

Based near Bruntingthorpe, in the heart of the rolling Leicestershire countryside and farmland, Eco Track & Access Ltd (ETA) has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Rural Diversification category of the awards, recognising a rurally located business which has diversified to generate income, thereby provide training and employment in a non-farming environment.

The Rural Business Awards co-founder, Anna Price commented: “Eco Track & Access easily made it onto the shortlist. The company has clearly demonstrated an innovative approach, a dedication to the environment and a commitment to sourcing suppliers locally. Along with the other finalists, ETA has demonstrated an ongoing devotion to the rural sector and an excellence in their business processes.”

The brainchild of ETA’s chief executive, Jonathan Vaughan, who comes from a farming background and has farmed in Devon and Leicestershire since 1990, ETA was launched primarily to provide temporary access for agricultural shows, equestrian and sporting events and festivals. ETA’s trackway and pedestrian access systems – Eco Terra Tech and Eco Gridmat – have been designed and developed by the company (with patents granted and other patents pending) and have strong eco-credentials, not just in terms of ground protection and minimal carbon footprint, but also in their use of recycled material during manufacturing and recycling again at end of use.

The team at ETA was very excited when chartered surveyors Fisher German announced the finalists for the inaugural Rural Business Awards, which are sponsored by Sturgess Motor Group, not considering for one moment they stood any chance.  The news, received while they were literally on site providing wet weather access at the historic Weldon Manor Farm next Corby, really gave the whole team a boost.

The-Vaughans-at-the-Rural-Business-Awards-l“To be named as a finalist for an award that specifically acknowledges what we are all about is a tremendous achievement. One of the reasons we believe ETA will continue to grow is the simplicity of the concept.  The systems are heavy duty but lightweight, entirely man-portable and provide instant ground cover that is also eco-protective – an essential requirement for farmers and landowners,” said Jonathan Vaughan. “We’re a small company, with accolades like this we are certainly ‘punching above our weight’ and whatever the outcome of the awards, just being part of it will certainly spur us onwards and hopefully upwards.”