Simon The Beekeeper
Harry Simpson
Harry Simpson's Story
Simon The Beekeeper has grown into one of the UK's leading beekeeping suppliers, serving hobbyist and professional beekeepers nationwide. They also export beekeeping equipment to Europe and the USA.
While the majority of their business is conducted online, the head office also includes a small retail shop where customers can visit and purchase equipment in person.
"In addition, we offer beekeeping courses and experience days to help educate and inspire both new and experienced beekeepers. We also have a showroom where customers who are needing full honey extraction and bottling lines can come and design their own honey processing line."
The business is doing very well and has experienced significant growth over recent years. Simon The Beekeeper now operate from multiple sites with a combined warehousing capacity of around 40,000 square feet, allowing them to support increasing demand and expand their product range.
"We've achieved several exciting milestones, including the acquisition of Paynes Bee Farms Ltd in 2024. Earlier this year, we also acquired Modern Beekeeping, further strengthening our position in the industry and broadening the products and services we can offer to customers."
Simon The Beekeeper have grown their team to over 20 employees who support the operations across warehousing, customer service, retail, education, and e-commerce.
Harry plans to continue expanding the business by investing in their facilities, growing their educational offering, and enhancing the online customer experience.
The early-stage support from Spark provided valuable guidance and encouragement during a formative period of the business. It helped build confidence in Harry's plans, provided access to useful advice and resources, and gave him a stronger foundation from which to grow into the successful business he is running today. The money from the Business Plan competition also helped fund his first website.
"We remain committed to supporting beekeepers across the UK with high-quality products, expert advice, and practical training."
