RURAL BUSINESS
Helping rural businesses see their potential, and grow.
For holiday lets, farm diversification, farm shops and retail spaces. I've transformed my own family's rural business, more than doubling its revenue, and I can help you do the same, from the very first idea to the way your business runs day to day.
In person, Yorkshire & beyond · Holiday lets · Farm diversification · Farm shops & retail
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
You know there's more your business could be
Bookings have plateaued, or your cottages are starting to feel tired.
Your farm shop or retail space doesn't flow the way it should.
You have a barn or building that could be earning its keep.
The business has grown, but the systems behind it haven't.
You're thinking about diversifying, but not sure what would work.
You want to attract a different kind of guest or customer.
WHERE I CAN HELP
Design, experience and the business behind it
Most designers stop at how a place looks. I look at the whole picture, because I run a rural business myself and know that a beautiful space only works if the business behind it does too.
01
Holiday lets & guest accommodation
Interiors and colour that make your property memorable and photograph beautifully, a guest experience people come back for, and listings that do it justice.
03
Farm shops & retail spaces
Layouts that guide customers naturally through the space, displays and atmosphere that help products sell, and illustrated maps, signage and artwork that tell your story.
02
Farm diversification
Finding the right new use for a barn, building or corner of the farm, then taking it from first idea through planning, design and project management to a finished space.
04
Systems & guest experience
The behind-the-scenes changes that let a growing business run smoothly: suppliers, scheduling, team organisation, guest feedback and practical AI tools.
FEATURED PROJECT
Bainvalley Cottages: evolving a family holiday business
A five-property holiday estate on our family farm. By listening to guests, I took The Hayloft from first idea through planning to finished building, opened Larder & Co. as a retail space for guests and visitors, and rebuilt the systems behind the scenes, from linen and scheduling to team management and AI tools.
2x
Revenue more than doubled
WAYS TO WORK WITH ME
Start small, or start at the very beginning
THE BEST PLACE TO START
Health Check
A fixed-fee visit where I look at your property and business with fresh eyes: how it looks and photographs, how the space works, the guest or customer experience, and how it runs.
You'll come away with a clear, prioritised plan.
FROM FIRST IDEA TO FINISHED SPACE
Transformation
For a refresh, a conversion or something new. I can join at the very beginning to spot the potential and steer it through planning, then design, source and project-manage it through to completion.
KEEP IMPROVING
Ongoing evolution
Lighter-touch support as your business grows: listening to feedback, refining the experience, and spotting the next opportunity before you need it.
HOW IT WORKS
Every project starts with a conversation
1
Talk & visit
I listen to what you want, walk the site, and get to know how your business works and who it's for.
2
A clear plan
You get honest advice and clear ideas, with stages and cost options, so you can decide what's right for you.
3
Design & delivery
I design, source and project-manage, working alongside your architect, planners and trades where needed.
4
Keep evolving
Once it's open, we listen to your guests and customers and keep making it better.
“We had a wonderful stay, 14 of us meeting up for a family weekend get together - with young kids through to 90 year olds. The downstairs bedroom in the main house was perfect for our elderly relatives who couldn't manage the stairs, the large dining area in the kitchen accommodated us all easily for meal and games in the evenings and the separate house for two of the families was perfect. The layout could not have been better for us, and the houses were immaculate, plus it's a short walk to the local pub. We had a great time, thank you”
Paul, Bainvalley Cottages Guest via Airbnb, 2025
Questions
Do I have to commit to a big project?
Not at all. The Health Check is a fixed-fee first step, and you're free to take the plan and run with it yourself.
Can you help before we've applied for planning?
Yes, and that's often the best time. I took The Hayloft through planning myself, and can help shape the idea and work alongside your architect and planning consultant.
How much does it cost?
The Health Check is a fixed fee of £595. Larger projects are quoted individually, with clear stages and cost options so there are no surprises.
Where do you work?
I'm based in North Yorkshire and work across Yorkshire and throughout the UK.
Ready for your business's next chapter?
Tell me about your place and what you'd like it to become. I'd love to hear about it.