Carlisle based, H&H Group Plc, announced earlier today that they have welcomed Toby Mounsey-Heysham (pictured right) and Neil Hannah (pictured left), as Non-Executive Company Directors.

Entrepreneur, farmer and businessman, Toby was born and bred in Cumbria.  He farms Castletown, near Rockcliffe, just north of Carlisle, a mixed farm with store cattle and suckler cows, along with an arable enterprise. Keen to maximise all the facilities the farm has to offer, he has also created a pod building business and wedding/event business, Castletown Woodland Weddings, in partnership with Kirkup Butchers of Longtown.

A physicist by training, Neil Hannah, who lives in Penrith, is a former managing director with over 30 years’ experience in the management of public, private and foundation businesses, in both the manufacturing and service sectors. He brings particular expertise in financial and systems analysis.

With a diverse range of interests, the H&H Group PLC operates as a holding company, with several successful operating companies and divisions encompassing Livestock and Machinery Auctioneers, Valuers, Chartered Surveyors, Property and Estate Agents, Auction Rooms, Commercial Printers, Graphic Designers, Digital Marketers and Insurance Brokers. Deep-rooted within agricultural and the wider rural economy and operating across the north of England and Scottish Borders in recent year the company has grown and evolved and today employs over 300 members of staff.

Commenting on these appointments, Michael Scott, Chairman of H&H Group said: “These are exciting times for the H&H Group and we are delighted that Toby and Neil will be joining us.  Both bring a raft of expertise with them which complement perfectly with the skills of rest of the team, and I am very much look forward to working with them.

“With Toby’s background in entrepreneurship and Cumbrian agriculture, he really understands the needs of rural businesses. His strong grasp of environmental issues and the digital economy will be invaluable to the Board in helping to develop and strengthen the company.

“Neil brings an in-depth understanding of business and corporate governance in particular. He is keen to support and advise the Board in three main areas; legal compliance, strategy, and to bring an external expert eye to the decision-making process.”

Currently Neil Hannah is Chairman of the Board of the Network Rail Certification Body and a Non-Executive Director of the British Board of Agreement  (BBA), which certifies construction products. Previously he held senior management positions at BSI and Applus, where he managed aspects of inspection and certification in the nuclear, aerospace, and oil and gas sector. He is also on the board of the Fellrunner Village Bus community bus service, which visits most of the villages in the Penrith area providing services to Penrith and Carlisle.

Neil said “I am delighted to join the Board of H&H as I feel that Cumbria faces a number of challenges and it will be exciting to contribute to a local company that influences so much that we do, from the food that we eat, the environment we live in and the places we stay. It is a very interesting and compelling role, and I am really looking forward to working with the rest of the H&H team to develop sustainably, both existing and new opportunities.”

From a commercial business background, Toby Mounsey-Heysham has founded and run a variety of enterprises across the UK. Currently Managing Director of Pinnacle Power, which designs, builds, operates, and finances low carbon energy networks, he also jointly founded Solway Construction and was a non-executive director of a Cumbrian Fibre Broadband company, Grain Connect.

On confirmation of his appointment Toby said “I am really honoured to be invited to join the Board. With the diminishing BPS payment and an increasing focus on efficiency, biodiversity and carbon, the agricultural sector faces both enormous challenges as well as enormous opportunities over the next ten years. The rural community that we serve will have to adapt, and I hope to use my experience to help the H&H businesses both manage the risks and maximise the opportunities which are coming over the horizon. I look forward to working with the Board and team members to help drive the company to an even more successful future.”