Stonham Barns Park Art Business Named 2025 East of England Rural Start Up of the Year

In the time since, the creative hub has continued to expand and evolve – extending the studio and adding a wider variety of workshops, social craft mornings and working with her visitors and artists to develop a space that is accessible, affordable and community focused.

Albany, says: ‘I am thrilled to have won Rural Startup of the Year in East of England and so excited to be competing at the National level again. I was so surprised when they called my business out as winner.’

‘I cannot wait to go to Ideas Fest this year now that my children – Kai and baby daughter Juni – are a little older. It was tough last year with Juni being so tiny, the whole thing was a bit of a blur! I feel like we are now hitting our stride and going from strength to strength and I am just so grateful to have this art space where I am able to create and share my love for art, support and exhibit other artists and share our creative passions through workshops, all while raising my children.

As a small rural business, we wouldn’t be where we are without the support of our artists and visitors, along with our fellow local businesses and the team at Stonham Barns Park!”

Supported by Airwallex, Join Talent and V-Rum, the UK StartUp Awards were established to highlight the success of start-ups across ten UK nations and regions and to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs in all sectors of the economy.

Entrepreneurship is playing a crucial role in driving economic growth and innovation across the East of England. From Cambridge’s world-leading tech and life sciences cluster to the thriving agri-tech and renewable energy sectors in East Anglia, the region is home to a diverse and dynamic community of founders. These entrepreneurs are not only creating high-quality jobs and attracting investment but also helping to solve global challenges through cutting-edge research and commercialisation. With strong universities, access to talent, and a growing support ecosystem, the East of England is fast becoming a powerhouse of enterprise, fuelling a resilient and future-facing economy.

According to Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the UK StartUp Awards, this surge in start-up ambition reflects a new generation of entrepreneurs who are not only identifying opportunities but are also building innovative, resilient businesses that are shaping the future of the regional economy.

‘When we launched the StartUp Awards, the goal was simple namely to shine a spotlight on the incredible people building new businesses across the UK. While the headlines are often dominated by big firms, it’s the start-ups that are quietly transforming our economy from the ground up and that’s especially true in the East of England where new businesses are demonstrating outstanding resilience, creativity, and ambition. From innovative tech ventures to purpose-driven social enterprises, these entrepreneurs are driving change, creating jobs, and delivering real impact in their communities.’

‘I’m delighted that Sakura Studio Gallary has won their category at the awards and I’m looking forward to having them join the ‘best of the best’ from the East of England competing at the UK final later this year.’

All regional winners in their category will now progress to the UK StartUp Awards final, taking place at Ideas Fest on September 11th (dubbed the Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs) along with the winners from nine other nations and regions.