Merseyside farm receives six-figure sum to support growth

< back to all business news articles

12/07/2017

T & O Harrison, an established arable farmer in Prescot, Merseyside, has received a six-figure finance package from Yorkshire Bank. The support will help the company to take on large-scale plans to diversify their business.

Farming for the future

The funds are being used to progress two major projects for the farm: the construction of a grain store with solar panels, and the installation of a biomass boiler.

The grain store will allow the farm to expand its business by storing grain for another local producer. The solar panels fixed to the store roof will bring additional income to the farm for at least another 20 years, with power produced being used on-site and sold to the National Grid.

The installation of the biomass boiler was completed in 2017, and it has already begun generating income for the farm. Most of the heat will be used to dry grain and woodchip. The boiler also heats on-site offices, the workshop and the farm house.

The solar panels were installed by Wigan-based Atlantic Contracting, and the boiler by Manco Energy, based in Yorkshire.

Personal approach

Oliver Harrison, Partner at T & O Harrison, said: “The service we have received from the bank has been brilliant. They are able to give us decisions quickly, which really helps in the day-to-day running of our business. There’s no long chain of approvals when you need something done and it’s this personal approach that we really value. You know you’re dealing with a human, not a computer.”

Benefit to the environment

Ross Clark, Relationship Manager for Agriculture sector at Yorkshire Bank, said: “We’re delighted to have been working with T & O Harrison since 2010. It is great to see the farm growing and developing new areas of business – especially ones which will also be of benefit to the environment. We look forward to continuing our relationship with T & O Harrison as they grow.”