July 2026 : David Thomson CIO ZURICH INSURANCE

  Hugh Vere Nicoll is CEO of Hanbury Farms & Wild Rutland  

TICKETS ONLY £49.00 includes lunch & wine : 

Something big is stirring in the woods just off the Oakham bypass—but there is no cause for alarm.

Ex-Army officer, Afghanistan Veteran, and land-management specialist Hugh Vere Nicoll, CEO of Wild Rutland, and his team are working on an ambitious conservation project that could open around 1,000 acres of historic woodland, parkland and farmland that has never previously been accessible to the public. 

Stretching from Burley Wood to the Oakham bypass, Wild Rutland aims to restore habitats, reconnect the landscape and give visitors the chance to encounter Britain’s native wildlife in a setting shaped by conservation, education and careful long-term stewardship. “Wild Rutland aspires to be an exemplar model of conservation-led ecological tourism—one that restores heritage landscapes, reconnects people with nature and sets a benchmark for sustainable land management in the UK,” says Hugh Vere Nicoll.

Subject to planning permission, visitors could explore accessible walking and wildlife-safari routes, discover the story of the landscape through an education and exhibition centre, and enjoy nature-led family adventure experiences among the trees and grasslands. 

The scheme is also intended to bring jobs, skills and investment into Rutland. It forecasts approximately 75 direct jobs, alongside opportunities for volunteers, local suppliers, contractors, hospitality providers and other businesses. Estimates developed by the project team indicate that once operational it could bring an additional £12 million a year into the local economy through visitor spending and associated activity.  

Hugh says that Wild Rutland will support local tourism by “complementing existing attractions, supporting local businesses and creating job and volunteering opportunities.” It is anticipated that some volunteer organisations or charities will be invited to use the facilities, when they are available. 

“Too many of us are beginning to feel disconnected from nature,” he adds. “A key part of Wild Rutland is helping people rediscover their love and appreciation of the natural world. “It is a bold, once-in-a-generation vision: not simply to open a gate into the woods, but to bring people together to restore and conserve Rutland’s natural heritage for years to come. 

The site is currently the subject of a submitted planning application, which is under consideration by Rutland County Council

TICKETS ONLY £49.00 includes lunch & wine : 

BizClub Lunch : Friday 20th November : Alicia Kearns Member of Parliament for Rutland & Stamford

The BizClub are delighted to welcome our local MP to our lunch on November 20th. Alicia will be talking about her political  life and will welcome questions from the audience. Here is more about 

Alicia in her own words : 

During my four and a half years as the MP for Rutland and Melton, I was proud to have stood up for our wonderful area, supported thousands of constituents, and secured some important local wins. From standing up to ensure our dairy farmers were supported throughout the pandemic, to securing £23m in Government funding as part of our successful Levelling Up Bid, I’ve raised our communities at the highest levels of Government and beyond.

I grew up in a tiny village in Cambridgeshire, and I understand the needs of rural communities and know how often they are forgotten and don’t receive their fair share of central Government funding. My priorities are to protect our rural way of life, make our roads safer for our communities, end rural rural disadvantage in local government funding, protect food security, improve flooding resilience and improve broadband and mobile phone signal for our communities.

Prior to being elected in 2019, I worked in counter-terrorism at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and then as an independent consultant across the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. During my time in Parliament as the MP for Rutland and Melton I had the honour of being elected as Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. I also launched the All Party Parliamentary Group on Geographically Protected Foods, for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for UK overseas territory Turks and Caicos.

At the General Election on 4th July I had the honour of being re-elected as the Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Rutland and Stamford. I look forward to making our incredible communities even better places to live and delivering on what matters most to us all.

All my best to you and yours,

Alicia