Description of business

Turnpike Farm is both the home and business vehicle of social entrepreneur Robert Ashton and his wife Belinda. The farm was derelict when they bought it in 1998. Now it is a busy, creative place where:
- Robert writes business books, columns, opinion pieces and blogs;
- Robert runs small workshops and masterclasses for new entrepreneurs;
- Robert delivers 'Big Society' consultancy to social enterprises, charities, schools, medical practitioners and environmental businesses.
- Robert is also a Trustee of Norfolk Community Foundation and helps charities and community groups raise funds and generate income.

- Belinda runs the family home, a converted barn;
- Belinda rents offices to small businesses in a C17th farmhouse;

The couple are supported by an able team:
- Bella, a PR professional, event organiser and editor;
- Jess, an excellent administrator, researcher and writer;
- Melissa, a researcher and web manager.

Bella and Jess are also fee earners, trading as Turnpike Farm PR:
- providing proactive communications support to ethical businesses;
- contract publishing magazines, including editing and ad sales.

The business works closely with Naked Marketing, a graphic design business based at the farm.

As a whole, Turnpike Farm can convert a challenge or opportunity into outcomes and outputs. Robert works with the client to develop and test the strategy, then Bella and the team provide the tactical communication activity needed to deliver results.

Business vision

Our vision is to play an increasing role in the convergence of public, private and third sector to develop an inclusive, self sustaining, ethical and caring UK economy.

Business aims

We have no bold aspirations to employ hundreds or turnover millions. By increasing our influence and raising the scale and size of the projects we influence, our income will grow. So too might our team, but we are driven by what we can achieve, not what we can become.

Business philosophies and beliefs

Our business philosophies are simple and underpin everything we do:

1. Catalyst not contractor - we work alongside, with and not for our clients;

2. Freedom not dependency - we aim to help our clients develop the contacts, knowledge and skills to manage without our long term support;

3. Sometimes expensive and sometimes free - our fees depend on the impact our client believes we can make. The bigger the impact the higher the fee. 15% of our work is pro bono, for those we believe we can usefully help but cannot afford to pay us;

4. Copyleft not copyright - we prefer to share freely than to restrict access to what we create. We share good practice on a 'pay forward' basis.

Business Values

Our business values steer us in every aspect of our work:

1. We only accept work we feel we can do well;
2. We will not promote or support anything we would not do ourselves;
3. We choose and support new, local and emerging suppliers;
4. We positively encourage everyone we deal with to value and strive to achieve a triple bottom line.

Business mission

We deliver our vision by:

- writing words that challenge and change the way people see their world;

- delivering inspirational speeches and seminars that give people the confidence, initiative and urgency to deliver positive change;

- supporting individuals, groups and organisations in the quest to make life better for themselves and those in society they care about;

- providing effective communications support to the projects we engage with;

- investing 15% of our time in pro bono projects where we influence and improve the landscapes upon which we work.

Writing - Robert has written 12 books and is frequently commissioned to write columns and opinion pieces for national and specialist press.

Speaking - inspirational presentations to audiences wishing to become more entrepreneurial without compromising values and ideals;

Consultancy - helping individuals,communities and organisations become more sustainable, effective, empowered and content;

Communications - refining and delivering messages via print and broadcast media, social media and direct to target audience;

Contract publishing - enabling 'hard to reach' markets to be accessed collectively;

Office space - both actual and virtual organisational hosting.

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Click on a topic area to reveal business responses:

Community Relations

Community Relations is about a business in a social and economic context. A business can strongly influence the quality of life not only for employees, but also for the wider community in which it operates. It is recognised that a sustainable community promotes sustainable business.

Corporate Governance

Corporate governance is about how a business is structured and whether rights, responsibilities and duties are clearly set out and understood. These issues are critical in maintaining accountability and providing strong decision-making functions.

This section provides an opportunity for a company to indicate how it remains honest, transparent, equitable and reputable in its conduct. These objectives are relevant to any business whether large or small.

Donations and Payments

To whom and exactly how companies make donations and payments, including those to charitable organisations, professional associations and government, are extremely complex issues. It is important that companies disclose their corporate donations, publish their payments and explain what they hope or expect to receive in return.

Environment

Natural resources are vital to sustain our lives and lifestyle. This section looks at the impact business operations have on the physical environment. It is not always easy to address the challenges, but companies have the opportunity to show the problems they face and how they tackle them.

Human Rights

This section is about how businesses ensure that their operations do not violate the fundamental rights of individuals and communities at home or abroad. Businesses have the opportunity to examine this issue with regards to their own practices, supply chains and business relationships.

Marketplace Ethics

This section is about how businesses handle consumer rights and wider welfare issues. Many of the questions cover areas where there is a fair amount of legislation and regulation: it is an opportunity for businesses to show how they go beyond a legal minimum to address ethical issues in the marketplace.

Workforce

It is widely acknowledged that people are the most valuable asset to any business. In this topic, the questions are addressing the treatment of workforce. It is quite diverse but the focus is on promoting a fair, equitable, honest and supportive work environment.