Hi, my name is Dan Hurring. This is my personal business website, where you can find out more about me and what I have to offer you.
Brief Biog
I am a social entrepreneur, project manager and events/hospitality professional with a particular interest in regenerative land use, community resilience, social change and a passion for initiating and developing projects and enterprises. I live in beautiful rural Somerset but work across the South West and beyond as required.
As an organiser of outdoor events for much of the last 20 years, I developed skills in areas relevant to many sectors. I work well in high-pressure environments. I have a natural talent for stakeholder engagement and finding the right connections between people; I have managed multiple major projects with high budgets from initiation to completion; I’ve founded and managed companies and in doing so developed all the skills required of a company director; I have set-up and been part of a range of social enterprises, charities and community projects from Board Member level downwards. I have always had a particular interest in community organisation and design, fed as a youth through my love of human geography and my addiction to civilisation-building computer games. I am a solution-finder and problem-solver. In the words of the Brazilians’ ‘Dar um Jeito’ – ‘There is always a way’.
For many years I worked primarily as an event producer, organising socially- and environmentally-conscious festivals, gatherings and conferences. In 2013 I sold the award-winning Sunrise Festivals and moved into running hospitality and venue spaces. During my time in the events world I developed an increasing passion and understanding for social and community enterprise and in recent years have switched more of my professional attentions to this area. Whilst I still work in the events sphere, my other interest is in working with social, environmental and community-minded organisations. In the past decade I have undertaken work for several local energy cooperatives; an enabling developer for co-housing projects; a new economy project in Devon; and co-founded a cooperative facilitating community-led development in Somerset. I also served as a Director of Somerset Cooperative Services.
Since 2016 I have worked for the Permaculture Association as National Events Coordinator and in the last two years built up significant online event production skills with this fantastic organisation.
I currently run a venue space near Bruton and Frome in Somerset, Field 725, and have co-founded a business – Be Wilder Camps – bringing eco-tourism and rewilding land projects together, as well as running our own glamping and outdoor activity sites. I continue to provide consultancy and project management services. I can assist in Premises Licensing and Event Management Planning, plus on online event production.
These days, my greatest passions are for working outdoors. I love to create spaces where people and nature can meet harmoniously. I believe humans can provide a net gain to our environment and much of my work focuses on that. I am inspired by the current movements towards rewilding, regenerative land use, tree-planting and biodiversity gain. I aim to operate my own projects with environmental best practices in mind, whilst maintaining a commercial imperative.
I offer organisations advice and consultancy in a wide range of areas – from Project Management and Design to Project Finance through to Community Engagement – via my consultancy business Hummingbird Project Consultancy. I also offer Premises Licensing and Events Operations, Production and Creative Consultancy. I love it where I am able to bring the diverse threads of my life together – no more so than when working in organisations anf on projects which have purpose, meaning and social value.
In summary, I am creative and enterprising. I enjoy working as part of a team but am most proficient in leading projects and people. I like seeing and making good things happen. I am available to work on and assist you in developing interesting and worthwhile projects. I have skills, drive and passion to offer. I am interested in using my skills to help make good things happen, wherever that be. I am open for work.
For my CV, take a look at my LinkedIn Profile which I try to keep updated or the Skills page of my website.