About us

The Blackdown Hills Business Association is a not-for-profit membership based organisation which was set up in the early 1980s in order to bring together small businesses who were finding it difficult to promote their businesses individually. These businesses saw the value of promoting themselves collectively. This need remains at the core of the BHBA activities today. As at March 2013 our membership stood at around 200 business members and supporters

The BHBA has an executive Board of Directors:

Heather Stallard MBE, David Ball (David Ball Furniture Restoration), Steve Whitley (Corrymoor Socks), Adrian Stallard (Lentells Ltd, Chartered Accountants), Robert Parker (wood crafter), Sarah Machin (Windover Farm Cottage), Donna Lucking (Ellises Farm),  John Carr (retired), Claude Caple (President of South West Airfields Heritage Trust), Wendy Caple (Stychewise) and Andrew Lovering.

The day to day organisation and acitivities of the BHBA are delivered by Val Baker of Absolutes.

In March 2012, the BHBA decided to spread its wings and invite businesses in the rural parts of East Devon to join the BHBA.  Following a number of successful events in the area, it was felt that the BHBA could offer some additional support products, services and opportunities to businesses in the East Devon rural area.  The BHBA is keen to support particularly those businesses that are tucked away in the rural parts of the area.

 

Our aims

The Blackdown Hills Business Association aims to promote the interests of all businesses in the Blackdown Hills area.

We seek to respond to the needs of businesses that contribute so much to the prosperity of this area.

We are keen to build links with organisations and businesses outside the Blackdown Hills and East Devon rural areas. There are no barriers to membership.  We strongly believe that forging links with new areas in the region is crucial in helping to safeguard the future prosperity of our business members.