Innovation success for Ceredigion firm at the Rural Business Awards.

The Rural Business Awards are an opportunity to highlight the best of business in rural areas of the UK.

Harvst, a Cardigan based green-tech business was shortlisted in two categories, and won the award for ‘innovation’ based on their industry-leading, consumer gardening tech that is changing the face of gardening in the UK. Founder, Chris Tanner came up with the technology during initial COVID-19 lockdowns: combining his passion for gardening with software building skills to automate his own gardening.

The business has officially been running for little over a year, gaining a foothold in the competitive and growing market of gardening after being shortlisted for several Wales Start Up Awards as well as being named one of ‘20 businesses to watch in Wales’.

Commenting on the win Chris, said:

“It’s really great to be recognised for all of the hard work we’ve put into our products that are engineered and built here in Cardigan. We’d like to thank the Rural Business Awards for recognising our Harvst community that includes friends, family, and our great customers.
“All of the technology used in our smart gardening systems was created here in Wales and we’re incredibly proud of the fact that we’re a business that hasn’t necessarily gone down the conventional route of being based in a more accessible, urban area such as Swansea or Cardiff”.

The business will now go on as finalists to represent Wales in the National Rural Business Awards, in February 2022.

The Rural Business Awards is the brainchild of Leicestershire businesswomen Anna Price and Jemma Clifford, who wanted to showcase the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in rural areas of Britain.

The Awards are organised by rural business for rural business, with winners in the 13 categories – ranging from Best Rural Start Up and Best Rural Diversification Project; through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and Best Rural Innovation – decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.