Oak on Oak
Location: Fallowfield, Sector: Forestry
Neil Attenborough started his hardwood milling business as a hobby and as a result of £27,300 awarded by the Surrey Hills LEADER grant scheme can now develop the business into a profitable going concern. Oak on Oak supplies local building restoration and construction companies and boat building yards with locally grown oak and other hardwoods from Forestry Commission sources. Neil has had 28 years of experience in wooden boat restoration and has also worked with the business’s large wood mill for 6 years. The grant will enable him to purchase equipment for transporting timber hence expanding the main business as well as boosting firewood sales. He is hoping it will eventually lead to the creation of a new job.Neil Attenborough successfully applied to the Surrey Hills LEADER grant scheme for £27,300 towards the cost of a new larger tractor, grab crane and trailer transporter. He has made a significant personal investment into the existing equipment but needed additional funds to cut down transportation costs.
The new equipment will allow
· The business focus to be shifted to a larger market – the provision of specialist timber for renovation and construction
· The firewood business to expand thus providing the local community with locally sourced woodfuel
· Better utilisation of by products such as materials for biofuels and timber for other yards
The Surrey Hills LEADER grant of half this investment will give Neil the ability to transport trees, final product and waste wood himself, therefore increasing efficiency, improving the range of products available and providing the opportunity to enter into collaboration with other local businesses.
