The Team Building British Hemp
Combining biotech expertise, agricultural experience, and industry leadership
Founders
Industry veterans with combined 15+ years in hemp, CBD, and cannabis sectors
Commercially astute professional with extensive experience leading profitable growth across challenging omnichannel retail environments, regulated healthcare, novel biotech sectors and diverse SMEs – from Tesco to pioneering ventures in complex, compliance-driven industries.
At Precision Plants, Charles leads R&D strategy and has secured over £1M in non-dilutive funding from Innovate UK and University of Hertfordshire. As Home Office licence holder, he operates at the intersection of biotechnology, agriculture, and regulation, leading collaborations with University of Hertfordshire and Rothamsted Research.
Key Achievements
- Secured £1M+ non-dilutive funding (1 of 7 national Innovate UK winners)
- Home Office licence holder for hemp research
- Director & Treasurer, Cannabis Industry Council (2021-2025)
- Co-founded award-winning Bud & Tender CBD brand (FSA Novel Food listed)
Expertise
- Biotech and regulated healthcare sectors
- R&D strategy and academic collaborations
- Regulatory compliance (CQC, Home Office, FSA)
- Financial governance and board leadership
Entrepreneur and cannabis specialist with over a decade in hemp, CBD and cannabis, building both award-winning consumer brands and deep-tech genetics platforms for the UK and EU markets. Experience spans the full value chain: seed selection, agronomy and cultivation, post-harvest processing, extraction, product formulation, regulatory navigation and commercial go-to-market across both B2B and D2C channels.
At Precision Plants, Mark leads on product strategy and trait design, using CRISPR-Cas9 to create compliant, high-yielding, climate-resilient hemp genetics that de-risk cultivation for farmers and unlock new revenue across food, fibre and bio-materials markets.
Key Achievements
- Over a decade of hemp, CBD and cannabis industry experience
- Founder of Bud & Tender - multi-award-winning UK CBD brand
- Full value chain expertise from seed to finished product
- CRISPR-Cas9 trait design and product strategy leadership
Expertise
- Hemp cultivation and agronomy (10+ years)
- Product development and trait design
- Regulatory navigation (UK/EU markets)
- B2B and D2C commercial go-to-market
Advisory Board
Hemp industry leaders guiding our strategic direction and market development
Director, British Hemp Alliance
Carbon Strategies & Regenerative Agriculture
Helping clients build credible carbon strategies through hemp and regenerative agriculture innovation. First to register European biogenic carbon credits from natural building materials derived from locally grown industrial hemp.
- 11+ years hemp industry experience (Vitality Hemp founder)
- European biogenic carbon credits pioneer (Augur Associates)
- LCA-guided product development expertise
- Vital Acoustics - biobased acoustic panels for carbon storage
Former Chair, Scottish Hemp Association
Genetics & Landrace Conservation
International health innovator and hemp advocate. Personal recovery journey using CBD sparked passion for the hemp industry, featured on Sky News, BBC News, and VICE News. Producer of documentary 'Hemp: Eat Build Heal'.
- Landrace Warden - protecting native hemp varieties worldwide
- Chair, Scottish Hemp Association (2020-2023)
- Documentary producer: 'Hemp: Eat Build Heal'
- Award-winning CBD product designer and genetics consultant
Founding Director, NI Hemp Association
Irish Hemp Market Development
Founded the Northern Ireland Hemp Association in 2019 with a vision of protecting the fast emerging industry. Leverages 10 years of health foods knowledge and 18 years of digital media experience to strengthen Ireland's resurgent hemp industry.
- Founded NI Hemp Association - supporting industry from soil to shelf
- Executive Assistant at Eden Hemp Co. (bio-based building materials)
- 10+ years health foods industry experience (Azora Health)
- Cross-border opportunities expertise (Ireland/UK)
Founder, The British Hemp Company & UK Hemp Ltd
Farmer Adoption & Supply Chains
Pioneering UK hemp entrepreneur and supply chain builder. Steve created UK Hemp and The British Hemp Company to bring fully traceable, UK-grown hemp products to market and support farmers into the crop.
- Founder & MD, The British Hemp Company – UK-grown hemp seed products at scale
- Founder & MD, UK Hemp Ltd – national network of licensed hemp growers
- Secured 40+ industrial hemp licences for UK farmers
- Deep downstream links into food, skincare, and pet food markets
Specialist Advisors
Expert guidance across regulatory, financial, and scientific domains
License Advisor
GMP Implementation & Regulatory Licensing
Clinical development strategist and GMP implementation specialist with 20+ years experience in pharmaceutical clinical trials, manufacturing, and import/distribution licensing. Specialises in bringing herbal medicines into mainstream medical use.
- MHRA licensing expertise (WDA(h), MS, Controlled Drugs)
- GMP implementation and audit readiness
- Quality Management System buildouts
- Clinical development strategy for botanical medicines
Financial Advisor
Financial Strategy & Business Advisory
Virtual accountant and business advisor with 30+ years experience helping business owners achieve success. Xero Gold Champion combining accounting expertise with NLP coaching to deliver targeted business outcomes.
- Financial modelling and projections
- Investment round structuring (SEIS compliance)
- Grant management and R&D tax credits
- Business advisory and coaching
Scientific Advisor
Genetics Research & Academic Liaison
Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Genetics) at University of Hertfordshire with expertise in plant genetics and molecular biology. Head of International Department at Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU).
- Gene-editing technology guidance and research methodology
- University of Hertfordshire partnership development
- Scientific publication strategy and peer review
- Biodetection Technologies Hub research leadership
Supported by Leading Institutions
World-class research partners validating our technology
University of Hertfordshire
Gene-Editing Platform Partner & Investor
CRISPR-Cas9 platform access, genomics facilities, £95k investment, operational base (Enterprise Hub)
Rothamsted Research
Independent Field Trial Partner
2-year field trials, regulatory-grade data, scientific validation, world-class research credibility
Innovate UK
Government Funding Partner
£912k Farming Futures R&D Fund grant, government validation, strategic recognition
Defra
Regulatory Authority & Policy Support
Precision breeding regulations, hemp policy development, strategic industry support
Join the Hemp Revolution
Precision Plants is growing from R&D startup to commercial-stage agricultural genetics company. As we scale toward commercial launch (2032), we'll be hiring across multiple functions.
No current openings, but we're always interested in exceptional talent. Send your CV and cover letter to [email protected]