About
BIOG
My name is Dan Hurring, 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 with my wonderful – if sometimes dysfunctional – family but work across the South West and beyond as required.
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.
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’.
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 in 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 have a strong interest in Land-based projects. Taking a piece of land and adding to it in a way that brings value to it as a part of our environment, for the landowner and for the wider community, stakeholders and users. Beyond that, I am now applying my skills in project management and community liaison for both an Energy Cooperative and a Community Housebuilder.
I like seeing and making good things happen. I am available to work on interesting and worthwhile projects. I have skills to offer! 🙂
SKILLS
Project Management
• Led multiple projects across events industry from beginning to end including festivals, carnivals and conferences
• Managed redevelopment of two derelict golf courses into sustainable events and activities venues
• Project managed the Transition Network International Conference and the European Permaculture Convergence (online) exciting global projects for innovative, world-changing organisations
• Worked on a landmark regeneration project in a rural town in Somerset
Project Design & Development
• Founded the multi-award-winning, ecologically renowned Sunrise Festivals
• Founded the Off-Grid series of events, landmark festival-conference crossovers
• Designed and Produced open-air Cinema and Theatre events amidst a full calendar of activities at Thoulstone Park in 2014
• Work with the Permaculture Association designing and delivering their new events programme for 2016-2020
Social Enterprise Development
• Worked as advisor on a number of unique, cutting edge community housing development projects with Community Juice Ltd
• Supported a new economy project in establishing their new rural conference and retreat venue
• Worked as board member of Somerset Cooperative Services, a leading social enterprise hub, aiding in business development and planning
• Produced Annual Report, Strategy and Share Offers for Avalon Community Energy Ltd, helping raise nearly £200,000
• Promoted the successful Community Share Offer of Exeter Community Energy Ltd raising £390,000 in 4 weeks
Stakeholder Engagement / Local Authority and Community Liaison
• Community Engagement Officer for renewable energy cooperative in Somerset
• Co-founder of One Planet Co-op facilitating community-led development in Frome
• Managed all Local Authority and Community relations for Sunrise Festivals
• Attended SAGs and other Multi-Agency Meetings in over 6 counties and authorities
• Designed and implemented community liaison plans for multiple festivals and events
• Regularly attended council meetings at all levels and understand how these work
• Produced a 120-page detailed sustainability audit for Somerset County Council
Operational Planning / Premises Licenses / Events
• Produced full premises license applications for multiple events with excellent success rate
• Produced multiple event management plans (EMPs) for festivals and carnivals
• Operated Event Control Centres for major UK festivals
• Moved into online event production and produced three conferences for 1000+ attendees
Inspirational Team Leadership | Creative Development | Social Enterprise | Planning Policy & Community Development | Networking | Community Engagement | Article & Blog Writing | Public Speaking and Chairing Meetings
INTERESTS
Social Enterprise | Eco-Project Design | Urban & Rural Regeneration | Regenerative Land Management | Rewilding | Community Housing Models | Festival Management and Design | Talks & Conference Programming | Eco-Communities | The Emergent Economy | Local Enterprise Networks and Partnerships | International Travel | Personal Development and Transformation | Writing and Speaking | Wizardry
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ADVISORY AND RELATED ROLES
Trustee to Pink Wood Society | Advisor to Community Juice Ltd | Board Member of Somerset Cooperative Services | Trustee to Natural Communities Foundation | Steering Group Member: Green Festival Alliance & ‘Power Behind Festivals’ Campaign| Advisory Board: Building Man Cooperative | Local Government Liaison Group for Transition Somerset | Blog and Article Writer: RHEnvironmental Ltd, Stir Magazine and Virtual Festivals | Public Speaker at Various Forums and Events
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Please have a look at my attached CV to get a better idea of my experience, skills and knowledge.