A wide range of support, workshops and events are now available to South West food and drink businesses to develop their ideas and grow their business. The Food WorksSW is the region’s only food and drink development centre with the aim of turning an idea into a sellable product.
Funded support is currently available to North Somerset and West of England food and drink businesses to help them start up, develop their product ideas and take the next steps to make a success of their business. While there are also a range of events now available for producers across the South West to take part in.
Rachel Goff is The Food WorksSW’ Senior Technical and Site Manager. Rachel said, “We are seeing increasing numbers of people with great ideas, but needing guidance or pointers as to how to make the product marketable. We can provide the support to help people and businesses take that next step with help in matters such as regulations, labelling, costings, shelf life, equipment, packaging and food accreditations. In the short time we have been open, we have already helped people and business across the region take the next step.”
A range of free workshops and seminars are also currently being held at the Centre through until September that are open to all South West food and drink business.
Zoe Plant, The Food WorksSW’ NPD Innovation Manager said, “Our events have covered topics like starting a food or drink business, developing a product, food trends and food photography. We’ve also had practical workshops on chocolate making and bakery in our development kitchens. Planned events include: Branding, Sales, Marketing & IP, Race to Carbon Zero, and a Pie making Workshop. We are working with other organisations such as Bristol Robotics Lab to hold a workshop on automating parts of food production and Food Buzz with a practical workshop on making drinks Workshop. More are planned, but all are great to help people with ideas and supporting the next steps for their business”.
More information on the events that are currently available and planned can be found at www.foodworks-sw.co.uk/food-works-live-events. More information about the support the Food WorksSW team are able to provide can be found at www.foodworks-sw.co.uk.
