Earthmill in running to be crowned Euro Business of the Year

Renewables firm Earthmill is hoping to beat off competition from 26 other finalists to be crowned European Business of the Year.

Earthmill, which is based in Wetherby, is one of just five British companies shortlisted by a panel of judges.

Earthmill, which provides and installs small to medium scale wind turbines on farms across the UK, hopes to take the title of European champion at a gala event in May.

“2013 has been amazing for us, we have grown at a phenomenal pace,” said Steve Milner, the managing director of Earthmill.

Mr Milner founded the business in his garage in Spofforth in 2009. Today, the company employs around 30 people, and has an annual turnover of £13m.

Mr Milner added: “There are many farms that are under financial pressure, whether it be milk prices, feed costs or rising energy bills. By installing a small scale turbine on their farm they are able to improve their financial position, secure their future energy costs and reinvest in other areas of their business.”

Earthmill has already been named as one of the national champions in the internally judged part of the competition which is sponsored by RSM International. It will now compete against 26 national champions for the public vote. The company with the most votes will be named National Public Champion on January 14.

Last month, Earthmill announced that it had established a new fund that will finance up to 100 wind turbines on UK farms.

Earthmill spokesman Mark Woodward said the company had secured more than £10m of backing to fund the installation of new super-efficient turbines.