High Sheriff of West Sussex tours county’s businesses to showcase their success

High Sheriff of West Sussex Dr Tim Fooks has embarked on a tour of the county’s businesses to showcase the resilience and success of the horticulture and manufacturing sectors.
Richard Hopkins, High Sheriff Dr Tim Fooks and his wife, and Caroline WoodRichard Hopkins, High Sheriff Dr Tim Fooks and his wife, and Caroline Wood
Richard Hopkins, High Sheriff Dr Tim Fooks and his wife, and Caroline Wood

Dr Fooks’s first visit on the tour, organised by the Coastal West Sussex Partnership, was to Fargro, near Arundel.

Richard Hopkins, managing director of Fargro, said: “Horticulture is a key sector for the local communities, and there are great opportunities for the industry and young people joining it.

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“More people are concerned where their food comes from and want to know that their garden plants are grown in a sustainable way. I was pleased to show Tim how Fargro, as a West Sussex business, is leading the way.”

The office of High Sheriff is an independent, non-political royal appointment for a single year.

The role provides Dr Fooks with the chance to promote ‘all that makes this county’s communities thriving and resilient’, he said.

“For this to happen, a flourishing local economy, created by the presence of successful and growing businesses, is key,” he added.

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“The Coastal West Sussex partnership is known for its proactive and effective work to encourage a locally business-positive approach by local government and education. It was therefore a pleasure and privilege to be invited to visit one its members, Fargro Ltd.

“Strategically placed within West Sussex’s horticultural powerhouse south of the Downs, Fargro is a leading UK wholesaler, supplying the needs of those operating in this extremely significant sector.

“But as a successful local business, it has an apprenticeship programme and is also reaching out to local schools to encourage career opportunities in the cultivation industry. It even has the time and energy to support a local children’s charity.

“Fargro Ltd and the Coastal West Sussex partnership are exemplars within the West Sussex business community and, as High Sheriff, I am grateful to them both for all they are doing to create a sustainable and robust local economy along our coastal strip; we all benefit as a result.”

To find out more about The Coastal West Sussex Partnership, visit https://coastalwestsussex.org.uk