A Brasenose fresher has been shortlisted in the Entrepreneur of the Year category for his one-man pig business in the 2008 Yorkshire Rural Awards.
First-year PPEist Duncan Turnbull, from York, founded his business Yorkshire Meats, a traditional meat company specializing in breeding and rearing rare-breed pedigree Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, to be sold as a luxury product.
“I am absolutely delighted about the nomination for this award, though quite surprised to be honest. It would be incredible to win, and use the proceeds to help the business grow further,” Turnbull said.
Turnbull will be competing against two other nominees, the farmer Copley Farm Shops of Purston and owner of animal feed business Ian Mosey of Gilling West. The prize is the top accolade in the annual awards ceremony, which acknowledges and celebrates leading business people who have furthered development of Yorkshire’s rural economy through diversifying by bringing in new jobs.
Turnbull founded his own pig business in 2000 at his parents’ farm at Shipton-by-Beningbrough in North Yorkshire. Since then he has built up a large herd of pigs, and catapulted his business to greater success in 2004 by launching an innovative adopt-a-pig scheme. The scheme allows customers to choose a pig, name it, visit it, and then eventually eat it.
Turnbull’s clientele spans from Brighton to Aberdeen. He has been filmed for a BBC documentary Jimmy’s Food Heroes and BBC Radio 4’s ‘Farming Today,’ and has written a piece for the Guardian, ‘Saving Our Bacon.’
“Originally it started off as a hobby and an interest. As the adopt-a-pig scheme was developed, more and more people become interested and it has really grown to become profitable,” he said.
Turnbull declined to comment on details of the profits his business has reaped but confirmed: “Proceeds from the business which is profitable is financing my way through university.”
Turnbull juggles his business and academic work by scheduling the busy times of the year, such as butchering, during the vacations. He has no business partners but has hired one employee.
“Now, it is more a business than a hobby, but at its current size it will never be so profitable that is could be sustained as a career. Therefore you need to enjoy it, and be a little mad, to continue,” he said.
The awards ceremony is due to take place on 23 May.
