Funding boost for food and drink sector
THE region’s food and drink sector has been given a boost after Yorkshire Forward unveiled a £8.8m strategy to help the industry perform and compete more effectively.
The package of support targets four main areas including provenance, supply chains and export support; process innovation; product and packaging innovation; and people and skills.
Key partners will deliver different elements of the support package, with the expertise and resources needed to help the sector develop and innovate.
The Farexchange programme aims to develop sustainable value chains, linking manufacturers back to the region’s farmers and growers to secure future supply.
The Regional Food Group (RFG) for Yorkshire and Humber will support food and drink companies with provenance, linking excellent local food, strong relationship and fewer food miles. They will also assist companies with exporting enquiries, finding the right markets overseas to grow and compete.
The Centre for Food Robotics and Automation (CenFRA) will deliver process innovation.
Traditionally there is low investment in robotics and process automation and CenFRA aims to encourage this by introducing enhanced and affordable automation.
Appetizing Innovation will assist the region’s product and packaging innovation by linking food and drink companies to a range of sources with the most up to date skills, technologies and equipment.
The National Skills Academy for Food and Drinks Manufacturing and Train to Gain initiative will support the skills aspect of the package.
Jim Farmery, assistant director of business at Yorkshire Forward, explains: “Our vision is to create an enterprise and innovation region of choice for new, emerging and established food and drink businesses. The strategy represents a more coherent approach to support for businesses – they will know who to go to in our partner network. We’ve made the support much more accessible and there is something in the strategy for everyone.”
For more information visit www.yorkshire-forward.com/food.
