About Me   

So, here I am creating a website, not about my business, Northfield Farm, ( www.northfieldfarm.com ) but about me. That seems a terribly egocentric thing to do, but it also seems to be part & parcel of marketing, social media and survival in this modern eco-techno world.

This is still very much a work in progress. All thoughts & suggestions are very welcome

Banker Turned Farmer

For some reason the story of 'Banker turned Farmer' has proved endlessly fascinating to media of all kinds. Although not the only banker to have ever turned to farming and food production for his livelihood, I am almost certainly the one they, the media, have most often turned to over the years on this particular theme.

A twist on this is an article I have written on the Stephen Hester Bonus debate  You'll find it & more at my blog.northfieldfarm.com

Career Change

After fourteen years as an Investment Banker, I was made redundant and decided to start my own business specialising in rare breeds, and try to help reverse the trend of decline in traditional farming and food production.
It has been a long and difficult journey including a near fatal accident on the farm.

Consultancy

During my food and farming years I have been approached to work as a consultant on several food related projects including branding, marketing and Farm Shop retailing. Clients have tended to be large land owners looking to diversify some areas of their holdings and expansion of existing businesses as well as totally new food related projects.

Food Markets

I was one of the founding Farmer Producers involved in the modern day incarnations of London's Borough & Broadway Markets. These two amazing markets are totally different in nature, but have both played a critical role in the Northfield Story over the last many years.

Convential Media

As a banker I learned quickly that speaking to papers, television and other media types could at times be as much of a career crushing activity as it could be career enhancing. Shortly after I started farming full-time, I realised that my new business was close to disaster and would need something truly exceptional to happen to save it. I received a call from a researcher from BBC Radio 4's 'On Your Farm' programme. This was followed up by a visit from Oliver Walston who interviewed me initially in the style of an interrogator. The more we talked, the more he realised just how passionate we were about getting this new, slightly mad food and farming venture off the ground. The broadcast totally transformed my business and my life at the time and since. Never underestimate the power of conventional media.

Social Media

Northfield Farm & Restaurant has a Facebook Page

I also have a Twitter presence as @northfieldfarm

I really did not get Twitter at all at first, but I became a convert pretty quickly and have found it both fascinating and productive, despite the many sceptics.