1st Anniversary at Pitch & Canvas

What a sensational year for Pitch & Canvas, our local award-winning Cheshire Camping Company based at Broad Oak Farm, Tattenhall.

Featured are Suzanne and Drew Miller who launched Pitch & Canvas just a year ago, following their success in managing a pop-up campsite for CarFest North.

And what an anniversary of celebration!

Pitch & Canvas have not only smashed their targets but have most recently been awarded 'Small Business of the Year Award'.

Based on their farm overlooking the delightful Peckforton Hills on the Sandstone Ridge, Suzanne and Drew offer the following:

• 2 new and wonderfully spacious static homes
• 2 luxury high-end glamping pods
• 20 camping pitches with a choice of electric hook-up or standard pitches and at which guests have use of our newly-built toilet and shower block, which also houses a washing up area to the rear
• 10 bell tents and pre-erected tents

'We knew we had a wonderful site here on the farm and we knew there was a massive amount of interest, but we didn't have a clue where to start,' admits Suzanne, who is helped by her children George, 14 and Abby, 9.

'Thankfully, Reaseheath College made me aware of fully funded business courses in Cheshire and I was able to benefit from expert advice and guidance in setting up a business, from accounting to insurance to marketing.'

The hard work paid off. The company expanded quickly; working with local suppliers it surpassed its five-year aims, beating out established competition from across the North West for the annual Small Business of the Year Award.

Suzanne concludes: 'It has been an incredible year; we are working with schools throughout Cheshire and Cheshire East and now have great partnerships with organisations such as the Duke of Edinburgh.Without the support from Reaseheath College and the local community, we would not have got off the ground; all the digital coaching, finance and general support was amazing – and our lovely village has been behind us all the way.'

Suzanne's business advice was provided by the ERDF-funded Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth Programme, which offers fully funded support to pre-starts, new start-ups and SMEs3. The programme delivers bespoke expertise and knowledge by signing companies up with relevant delivery partners to supply one-to-one advice and guidance, workshops, seminars and masterclasses. Suzanne worked with Janet Nuzum at Reaseheath College who adds: 'We are delighted for Suzanne and Drew; they have created a wonderful family business that appeals to so many consumer demographics, all they needed was the guidance and confidence to go for it.'