The food and drink industry is set to receive a boost as Enrich, the Northwest Food and Drink Hub, officially opens for business. A specialist service designed to increase enterprise and innovation within the industry, Enrich has been developed to provide support and access to facilities for the whole industry from primary producers thinking of expanding their business, through to major manufacturers looking to trial new products.
Delivered through Reaseheath College in Nantwich, Enrich celebrated its launch by opening its doors and inviting food and drink businesses to experience themselves the facilities on offer and to discuss with the team how Enrich can provide expert advice and guidance for anyone working in the industry, with particular specialist areas including dairy. Users of the service will be able to receive support in the following key areas:
• Product development and trial facilities
• Improving resource efficiency
• Process improvement
• Expansion and innovation
• Skills development
• Start-up advice
Enrich is expected to assist over 300 businesses per year by working with partner organisations to ensure these businesses have access to the technical expertise and knowledge they need to help them to grow. Dependent on the specific needs of the business, support will be offered through a variety of methods including workshops, clinics and one to one meetings, many of which will be offered free of charge.
Alex Kilcoyne, Project Manager, said: "Enrich will provide invaluable support for businesses in the food and drink industry and we will be working with them to provide the help and assistance they need in order to grow".
"At Enrich we have access to knowledge and expertise across all aspects of food and drink production, which we can use to support producers and manufacturers on new avenues of revenue and how to expand their business."
Many businesses in the region have already benefited from Enrich, including The Contented Cow Company's Louise Johnson and Phil Latham who launched their first product, 'Precious Milk' through the service: "The help and advice we've received from the team has been invaluable. After a series of meetings with an adviser we have developed our first product and have recently launched it into Sainsbury's."
Further information can be found at www.reaseheath.ac.uk/enrich or by calling 01270 625 131. Thanks must go to the Northwest Regional Development Agency for supporting this project.
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