The Rural Awards are back to shine a light on the best of the people and businesses within the rural North East.
New for this year’s event – the fourth The Journal has launched in conjunction with Northumberland College – is an award to recognise those who have made a huge difference over time to others.
The Lifetime Achievement Award seeks to reward those whose impact over time has enhanced the lives of others.
And being nominated for the Lifetime Achievement trophy does not necessarily mean that individual has completed their endeavours, but it does recognise he or she has committed a significant proportion of their life to them.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the new name for the Rural Hero Award, which was last year won by Andrew Miller, a passionate conservationist who has dedicated his career to working in the uplands of Northumberland.
Mr Miller has now retired after almost four decades of working for Northumberland National Park Authority, and he won the Rural Hero trophy after judges heard how he looked after the environment at the park by working with farmers and land managers.
Mr Miller has been at the forefront of helping to influence national policy for more than 25 years and he is also a member of the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.
Newcastle major law firm Hay & Kilner said it is reinforcing its countryside credentials by once again supporting the North East Rural Awards.
The Newcastle-based firm has signed up as the sponsor of the Lifetime Achievement category in the 2019 Awards.
The firm said advising growing rural business is an important and growing part of its work, with its nationally renowned and hugely experienced agricultural and rural team advising rural businesses across the North East and beyond on the key legal, property, inheritance tax, probate and succession issues that affect them.
Alison Hall, head of the agricultural & rural team at Hay & Kilner, said: “Hay & Kilner has been working within the North East’s rural communities for many decades. We are there to help businesses manage their commercial affairs as efficiently as possible, help them grow and diversify and ensure they have sound succession plans in place for their future.
“Rural businesses play a vital role in ensuring the sustainable success of the North East economy.
“Hay & Kilner’s continued support for the awards reflects the importance we place within our own business on the people and the companies within the region’s many and varied rural communities.”
The Lifetime Achievement trophy is one of 10 set to be given out at the awards ceremony at The Grand Marquee in the grounds at Kirkley Hall campus on July 4.
North East Rural Awards are back to shine a light on heroes within the region's rural communities
