Wandsworth Entrepreneur Harvesting Community Spirit

InBiz helps entrepreneur launch the 'Harvest Project'

David Atherton, 25, from Wandsworth, has launched the ‘Harvest Project’ in South West London, encouraging local people to grow their own food, and sell the excess to others in the community.

David was unemployed, but very keen to set up a social enterprise to help strengthen community bonds and help the environment. He needed some help to get his business launched, and turned to InBiz, a national organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of self employment and entrepreneurship as a way out of unemployment, for advice.

David attended the Croydon InBiz office, and was assigned his own personal business adviser, Jyo Patel. Working with Jyo, David was able to devise a business plan incorporating funding, tax, bookkeeping and marketing.

It took a lot of hard work to get his enterprise up and running, but he persevered and gained sponsorship from a law firm in Central London. His dedication paid off, and in just 13weeks David was able to generate a sustainable income.

Since then, the ‘Harvest Project’ has gone from strength to strength, and David has started running workshops and setting up ‘Harvest Clubs’ in local schools to create awareness of the Project.

David is thoroughly enjoying his new enterprise, and said, "InBiz has really helped make a dream come true for my, by helping me to launch the ‘Harvest Project’. I believe that communities should be brought together, and what better way than through the food we all eat everyday? Growing your own food is also better for the environment, with less packaging and you can be sure of what you are eating, and selling what you don’t need within the community also cuts down on waste."

Jyo Patel, Business Consultant, InBiz, said, "David is motivated, and very hardworking. He has such a positive attitude that I knew he would make a success of his enterprise. He is committed to helping the community in a sustainable way, and I wish him every success for the future."

InBiz Preess Release