Thank you to Cheesmur Building Contractors for sponsoring this award.
Go to the Cheesmur Building Contractors website.
Jess was introduced to the MDHUB by a member of our MDHUB London group back in 2018 initially for support through Management Coaching with Fi and then Phil as well with support around future strategy planning .
To say that Jess is a force of nature really is an understatement – here’s why.
The Aldenham Estate comprises 175 acres and is located in the first strip of countryside on London’s northern doorstep and has been farming and diversifying since the early 1600’s and now comprises agriculture ,aviation including Elstree Aerodrome , Home Farm Glamping and residential and commercial property.
It is a family run business and 9 years ago Jess gave up her career as a city lawyer with Linklaters and took over the running of the Estate and has latterly been joined by her brother Humphrey . Jess recognised from the get go that the structure of the business and landscape would need to change significantly in order to survive and be sustainable . And Jess saw this as quite a radical opportunity,which she has not held back from taking forward and developing – all this whilst having two very small children.
Under Jess’s Leadership , her family now have a vision to ensure the sustainability on all fronts,working closely with farming and development partners, planners, ecologists and advisors to increase the bio diversity and employment space and to make the estate more accessible for all.
They are very focused on managing their land in a way that supports biodiversity and ecology on the estate in a bid to counter the dreadful decline of the UK’s wildlife and habitats in recent years. Focusing on diversifying away from arable farming towards renewable energy and environmental land management ,they have plans for a Solar Farm ( subject to planning ) and a 200 acre managed habitat site for local businesses to invest in for habitat creation.
In and amongst all of this Jess still find time to attend the MDHUB London work group to support her peers, which never ceases to amaze us. Well Done Jess !