THREE Suffolk land-based firms were celebrating last night after they scooped training accolades at an inaugural awards event.

A pig breeding business, Piggy Green in Bury St Edmunds and Sentry, an Ipswich-based national land management firm, won two of the top four awards at the Landskills East Awards, held at Jimmy’s Farm, at Wherstead, near Ipswich. Another land-based business, pig production company BQP, based in Stradbroke, was also highly commended.

The guest speaker at the event, which included a tour of the farm, run by TV personality Jimmy Doherty, was Caroline Drummond.

Piggy Green scooped the Small Business title while Allpress Farms in Cambridgeshire was highly commended.

Piggy Green, established six years ago, doubled its 2,000 outdoor breeding sow operation over the last two years. Owner Jonathan Green said he was “very grateful” for all the help Landskills had provided.

Judge Gary Stokes, chair of the Food, Diversification and Rural Crafts Skills Group, praised the broad range of training undertaken by the firm. “During these very challenging times it is very commendable to have the foresight to invest time and money into training. Jonathan and his business will reap the benefits from enriching and empowering his most valuable resource,” he said.

Sentry was crowned winner in the Industry/Large Business category, while BQP was runner-up. The winner of the Individual training award was farm labourer Oliver Hipwell, of A J Hart & Sons in Bedfordshire. Runner-up in the category was Sam Steggles, founder of goat’s cheese producer Fielding Cottage in Little Ellingham, Norfolk. The Most Progressive Delivery Partner winner was Anglia Rural Training, based in Norfolk, while pig levy organisation BPEX, based in Bedfordshire, was highly commended.