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Independent trustee
Sarah Calcutt biography
A fifth generation fruit and hop farmer from the Weald of Kent, by heritage, I have spent the last 30 years working throughout the food and farming system both in the UK and abroad.
My career has been varied, working initially for primary producers, educators and their representative bodies and latterly in senior executive and non-exec roles. I was the Chair / Exec Chair of the National Fruit Show for 14 years, the Operations Director for British Apples and Pears, the General Manager of Avalon Producer Organisation and the CEO of City Harvest London, amongst other roles. I am currently a NED for Covent Garden Market Authority and Outfield Technologies and am really delighted to chair the Trustees for the Mole End EOT. Mole End farms my Father’s and Grandfather’s orchards, also those of many of their friends and the pack house and office is sited where I used to play as a child. It is great to be part of such a dedicated and focussed team, producing high quality, nutrient dense fruit in a sustainable way.
I believe passionately in the role that British Farming has to play in creating a healthy society and environment, supporting a world class, sustainable, food production model.
In addition to my professional roles, I am also involved in farming and musical charities and the Fruiterers Livery Company.
About Us
Employee Owned Trust (EOT)
Mole End Farms Ltd became an Employee Owned Trust (EOT) in November 2025. This succession planning was seen as providing the most stable future for the business and sees the majority shareholding held by the EOT, which operates solely for the benefit of those employed at the farm.
An EOT is managed by trustees. In our case, the Trustee is a new company ‘MEFEOT’ which has 4 trustee directors. These directors manage what the EOT does but this is a largely administrative task focused on holding the MEF board accountable for the way they manage the business. The trustee directors act collectively and have a duty to ensure that the interests of the EOT are looked after.
The 4 trustee directors are Paul Ward, James Langley-Hunt, elected employee trustee, Jarek Bakiera and independent trustee, Sarah Calcutt. Sarah is not an employee or part of the management team so she is the person best placed to challenge the MEF board and make sure we are genuinely operating for the long term benefit of the employees.
Whilst the EOT does not interfere in the day-to-day running of MEF, the EOT wants to be sure that MEF continues to be commercially successful, financially viable and is developing a culture where employees “think, feel and act” like owners. The typical way for an EOT to check whether these requirements are being met is by its trustees meeting with the directors / management team of MEF several times a year and asking them to report on areas such as finance, operations, culture, future plans, risks etc. so that the trustees have confidence in the way the business is being run.
Independent trustee, Sarah Calcutt has a wealth of farming experience and we are delighted she agreed to be a part of our Mole End Farm EOT board.
Our Produce
Our organic fruit production uses a minimal number of approved natural products for the control of both disease and pests.
Our organic fruit production uses a minimal number of approved natural products for the control of both disease and pests.
Sustainability
Mole End Farms has been certified organic by the Soil Association from the very beginning of its journey.
Mole End Farms has been certified organic by the Soil Association from the very beginning of its journey.
