School was never a very welcoming place. Being dyslexic, I found it very hard to meet the levels expected and I constantly felt that I was failing in education. One of the hardest things for me was knowing what I wanted to do, but never given the opportunity at school to achieve my potential.
‘‘Both companies are a combination of my dreams and a need to be closer to nature.’’
The Garden Army is a Community interest Company set up to support people of all ages who are living with health and wellbeing needs. We are supported by a group of volunteers drawn from the local community to help us create and maintain our vision. Which will ultimately be a beautiful therapeutic farm and kitchen garden for all.
Full Circle Farms are truly unique farm based in West Sussex , we produce amazing full flavour vegetables on small scale whilst never using a single drop of pesticide or herbicide. We also use these farms to educate people on where there food comes from and help people through horticultural therapy.
We grow people
From Struggling at School to National Award Finalist
I’m proud (and a bit overwhelmed) to share that I’ve been named a South East Finalist in the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2025 for Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year.
School was never easy for me. Being dyslexic made it feel like I was always two steps behind, and for a long time I thought it was something that would hold me back. I left school believing I wasn’t “academic enough” to do anything big.
But over the years I’ve realised that dyslexia isn’t a weakness — it’s my superpower. It’s what allows me to see problems differently, connect ideas in unusual ways, and build something unique. Full Circle Farms Sussex and The Garden Army wouldn’t exist without that way of thinking.
If I’m lucky enough to win this award, it’s not just a win for me — it’s a win for every person who’s been told they’re not “smart enough” or “capable enough” because they learn differently. I want it to be proof that you can achieve big things, and that sometimes the abilities others don’t see are the ones that make all the difference.
Thank you to my amazing team, our volunteers, and everyone who’s believed in me along the way. This journey is proof that your challenges can become your greatest strengths.
#GBEA #SustainabilityEntrepreneur #DyslexiaSuperpower #FromStruggleToSuccess #FullCircleFarms #TheGardenArmy #RegenerativeFarming #FoodWasteRecycling #BelieveInYourself
I became self-employed early in my career and I have always tried do the very best with whatever level of responsibility that I was afforded, and to take less desirable assignments that others might not want that approach has offered great exposure throughout my career.
I've learnt that it is essential to be committed to your career path, which means broadening your skills through continuing education and training and being willing to be Flexibility plays a key role in one’s marketability.
I have been working in the farming and large scale landscaping industry for the past 27 years. Both as a manager and a tradesman starting my first business at 18. And spending the next 4 years building up a large garden Maintenance company (The Naked Gardener) from this the company evolved into large landscaping works and bespoke tree house building where I spent a lot of time driving large 360 diggers building houses and gardens/parks. In recent years I have focused my attention on building two companies, Full circle farms and the not for profit organisation called The Garden Army cic.
