Fairman Knight & Sons celebrates double award win

The Lincolnshire bio‑conversion business was recognised for Business Innovation of the Year and Doing Business for Good – The ESG Champion Award.

Fairman Knight & Sons UK Limited has been named the winner of Business Innovation of the Year and Doing Business for Good – The ESG Champion Award at the South Holland Business Awards 2025, hosted by the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce in the Springfields Conference and Events Centre last night. 

Fairman Knight & Sons co-founders William Fairman and Julian Knight were joined by family, colleagues and Deputy Mayor of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, Cllr Ingrid Sheard, alongside Lee Sirdifield, Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, as they joined countless other regional businesses to recognise the outstanding work going on across industries in South Holland.

The team was thrilled to take home two awards. Firstly, the title of Business Innovation of the Year.  Shortlisted alongside RW Landscapting Ltd, Atomise Ltd and PSP IT, Fairman Knight & Sons was commended by the judges for transforming the agricultural landscape with its black soldier fly farming technology, delivering economic, environmental and social benefits as well as its forward-thinking approach and impact on the area. The judges said: “Their innovation diverts food waste from landfills, supports net-zero goals and creates local jobs while boosting business resilience and supply chain sustainability for partners like Tesco.” 

And secondly, the Doing Business for Good Award. Shortlisted alongside RW Landscaping Ltd and Lincs Eco Build, Fairman Knight was recognised for its pioneering black soldier fly farming, which cuts emissions by 90%, transforms thousands of tonnes of waste and delivers a 30,000CO2 saving, setting a new standard for environmental responsibility. Judges were equally impressed by the business’s inclusive culture, community investment and support of education initiatives across Lincolnshire. 

These accolades truly reflect the company’s commitment to reducing waste, harnessing a circular economy to deliver high‑value outputs and delivering positive outcomes for customers, communities and the environment.

Julian Knight, Co-founder and CEO, said: ⁠“We’re incredibly proud to be recognised among such strong regional businesses. These awards reflect the ingenuity of our team and our focus on doing things the right way and for the right reasons for our customers, communities and the environment.”

William Fairman, Co-founder and CFO, added: “This recognition underlines how fast the agricultural landscape is moving, and how we can - as an industry - embrace innovation to cultural, environmental and commercial benefit. We’re excited for what comes next.”