Young Tynedale businesses celebrate success with the National Park

Two, young Tynedale businesses came together with Northumberland National Park Authority’s Community Enterprise and Sustainable Development teams this week to celebrate their success with a special cake with the shape of the National Park’s emblem – the curlew.

Cheryl Hutchinson shares curlew cake with West Tynedale Children’s Centre. Photograph by Deve Photography

Cheryl’s Catering based in Haltwhistle, set up by Cheryl Hutchinson, and Deve Photography, owned by Di Makepeace of Haydon Bridge, were supported by grants and advice from Northumberland National Park Authority when they started. Their businesses are great examples of the sustainable enterprises that the Authority wants to encourage to set up in the National Park and its gateway towns and villages.

After receiving a grant from the National Park Sustainable Development Fund in 2008 and putting in a lot of hard work, Cheryl was able to turn her life-long dream of running her own catering company into a reality and is now the proud owner of a fast-growing business based in the Director’s Dining room at Hadrian Enterprise Park in Haltwhistle. Here, Cheryl’s Catering makes a wide range of delicious food with the emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients. She caters for all occasions from meals on wheels, business lunches, weddings and all things in between. Call 07905 876365 or visit www.cherylscatering.co.uk.

Cheryl’s Catering received a grant and, with one year’s successful trading under her belt, Cheryl baked a cake depicting the curlew to say “Thank you!”. Deve Photography and Western Tynedale Children’s Centre were invited to join in the celebrations. The cake raffle was won by Ms Judith Rickerby and raised £25 which will go towards the Centre’s Easter trip.

Deve Photography, based in Haydon Bridge, may be a fledgling business but it is fast gaining a foothold in the local photography market. After being made redundant from Tynedale Council, Di Makepeace decided it was the right time for a career shift. As she had been a keen amateur photographer for a number of years this seemed the natural route to choose. Di did not apply for a grant for the business, but did come to take advantage of the advice available. Di’s passion is ‘out and about’ photography, focusing on landscapes and buildings for the tourism industry, but she is always up for a challenge and something new. Her website www.devephotography.ukhq.co.uk shows that she has a great deal of natural flair in capturing people at those magic moments too.

Northumberland National Park’s Community Enterprise Support Officer, Ruth Dickinson, said: “it has been wonderful to see businesses that the Authority has supported flourish. Through our combination of free advice, grant schemes and active support we have been able to help a wide range of ventures to get off the ground so far, and are always keen to hear from anyone with a good idea who needs help to get started.”

Media contact:

Frances Whitehead, Communications Officer
Northumberland National Park Authority

Email: communications@nnpa.org.uk
Telephone: 01434 611542
Fax: 01434 611692