Over 70 people were attracted to Colburn
Business Park to hear the story of ‘ethical businessman’ Richard
Adams OBE, the founder of UK fair trade organisations Tearcraft and
Traidcraft.
Also founder of a number of social enterprises
which promote ethical business, Richard is recognised as one of the
top people in the country who has had most impact in ‘making the
world a better place’ for his development of the concept of ethical
shopping.
The Business Link Yorkshire ‘Be Inspired’
event was a chance for entrepreneurs to pick up on Richard’s
insights – and also an opportunity for local businesses to see all
that Colburn Business Park has to offer.
“Yorkshire Forward, Richmondshire
District Council, and developers Gladman Development and CFK
Developments are all working together to ensure that this park is a
first class location for business” said Councillor Helen Grant,
chair of Richmondshire District Council.
“Yorkshire Forward’s aim was to develop a
business park that would attract high quality businesses providing
well-paid skilled jobs and improving the local economy.”
Richard Adams then shared his story from his
first jobs in regional industrial development in the north east of
England and then in Scotland, learning about what mattered to firms
that wished to grow their business. He progressed to founding
Tearcraft and then in 1979 founded and spent ten years as managing
director of Traidcraft.
He drafted initial proposals for the UK’s
Fairtrade Foundation in 1989, ensuring it would act as an
independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the
developing world are getting a better deal.
Richard shared the success story around the
Fairtrade mark which has grown to have certified sales of £700
million in 2009. Today, Fairtrade commodities cover a wide range of
food products but also some non-food products like cotton, cut
flowers and sports balls.
● Yorkshire Forward bought the land to develop
Colburn Business Park in 2000 and now the park hosts three
developments: Innovate business centre, offices created by Gladman
Developments and industrial space from CFK Developments.
Further information about
the park can be found at http://www.colburnbusinesspark.co.uk/
Front row: Abi Bromirskyj
(Innovate Centre Manager), Richard Adams OBE, Councillor Helen
Grant and Vernon Poulson (Business Link)
Back row: members of Colburn
Business Park Steering Group