Announcement – We are National SME Gold Winners!

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We are very proud to announce that we have been awarded Gold for Positive Impact at the SME Business Awards, in both the Hertfordshire and National brackets!

A huge thank you to all our staff, volunteers, and trainees for their invaluable contributions to Sunnyside, making it a meaningful place for so many. Being acknowledged for our Positive Impact has filled us with such pride and joy. We dedicate ourselves to being a positive force within our community, and we are so grateful for this recognition.

These are just some of the ways that Sunnyside Rural Trust works hard to make a meaningful, positive impact in our local community of Hertfordshire:

  • Upskilling and employing adults with learning disabilities, helping challenge perceptions and empowering individuals – This year we introduced our new training scheme in partnership with Randle Siddeley: the Randle Siddeley Horticultural Programme of Excellence. This program takes 8 people with learning differences through a year-long journey of learning and practical work experience in horticulture. Read more about the program here.
  • Attending and hosting events in our local towns and villages – We host a monthly Art Fair at our Hemel Food Garden site, featuring many local artists and creatives. We have upcoming dates for November 8th, December 13th, February 7th & March 7th.
  • Creating beautiful community gardens to enhance local green spaces – most recently we created the amazing Windmill Garden, which you can visit now in Broadfield Road! Read more about this amazing project here: Families join us to mark opening of community garden
  • Caring for others in the community through our pay it forward scheme in our cafes
  • Stocking local businesses’ products in our farm shops – including Keep it Rural honey, mayonnaise and oils from Chiltern Cold Pressed, confectionary from The Chocolate Gift Company. Our coffee is also made using beans from Smith’s Coffee Company and milk from Lacey’s Family Farm.

We will continue to keep making a difference and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

You can check out the other great winners on the SME County Winners page here: County Winners 2025 | Events & PR
And the SME National Winners page here: Winners and Finalists 2025 | Events & PR