An entrepreneur has explained how she went from setting up one of the country’s most famous farmers’ markets nearly twenty years ago to using her experience to inspire and support other people in their personal and business lives.

Almost 20 years ago Clare Honeyfield, then Gerbrand, was preparing to launch one of the UK’s first farmers’ markets.

With grant funding support from Stroud District and Stroud Town Councils, Clare was hot desking at Stroud Valleys Project, using the limited technology that was available to recruit people to the new venture.

“I had a volunteer who used to come in once a week and look up farmers under ‘f’” in the yellow pages, it was before widespread use of the internet. There was one computer shared between the whole office.

“I got a lot of help from the late Sarah May from Bath, founder of the UK’s very first farmers market.

“She invited me to become a founder director of the National Association of Farmers Markets and I worked at a policy level for many years, I enjoyed speaking at their annual conferences, I guess that paved the way for where I am now.”

Clare retired from running markets six years ago, by which time Stroud’s weekly event had become the most awarded in the UK.

Looking for a new challenge she retrained as a yoga teacher, reiki master and works as a transformational coach and business coach, specialising in working with entrepreneurs and creatives.

Although she still owns and manages the Made in Stroud shop, in Kendrick Street, which she opened in 2000 in order to support Stroud-based artists and makers, Clare is currently working on a new course to help people get what they really want it life.

Starting in May, Power UP by The Distillery is a series of five Sunday morning meet ups which aim to help people get what they really want out of life.

“Moving into wellness is a great direction and I’m enjoying coaching new clients and helping them get their ideas off the ground,” Clare explained.

Next week Clare is working as a crew member at an event led by business strategist Tony Robbins in London.

“I attended his course last year myself, it’s really very powerful - there’s even a chance to walk across hot coals!”

l Find out more about the support services and coaching that Clare offers at by searching for her page ‘Clare Honeyfield’ on Facebook.