Food procurement workshops coming to the regions
Farmers, growers and other suppliers of food to the public sector will be able to find out about opportunities to better supply schools, hospitals and prisons with fresh produce through a series of government-run regional workshops in February-March 2006.
Sustainable Food and Farming Minister, Lord Bach said:
"These workshops present farmers and other food producers with the ideal opportunity to learn about options available to them for supplying a market worth around £1.8billion a year.
"The potential for farmers to capitalise on contracts to supply the public sector is immensely encouraging. I would urge farmers, growers and farmer co-operatives to consider forging links with this sector via contractors and catering suppliers and to attend the workshops."
The workshops will provide delegates with an opportunity to understand how the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative works, and how to do business with the public sector and primary suppliers. They will help farmers to understand how to deal with concerns about price, product quality and consistency and volumes of supply.
If farmers lack the capacity to supply the public sector directly, they can learn how to do this indirectly, through primary suppliers - for example wholesalers, contract caterers, regional distributors and local butchers.
Topics include:
* Demystifying the tender process - how and where to make an impact.
* How to look for public sector opportunities online on Tenders Electronic Daily
* Introduction to wholesalers and contract caterers
* Tips on identifying the market, meeting requirements, initial approaches
* Tapping into effective supply chains and overcoming problems of distribution
* Legal requirements - key do's and don'ts.
* Opportunities to work collaboratively
* Successful case studies that could work for you
* Sources of information and practical help.
The programme is backed by the NFU, English Farming and Food Partnerships, Meat and Livestock Commission, Institute of Grocery Distribution and Office of Government Commerce.
More Details
East Midlands
Venue: Chesterfield Library
Date: 16 February
Contact: Paul Sheppard
Tel: 0115 975 8810
Mobile: 07971 852977
Email: psheppard@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk
North East
Venue : GO-NE, Gallowgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Date: late Spring 2006
Contact: Claire Scott, Tel: 0191-201 3300
Email: Claire.scott@gone.gsi.gov.uk
Website: http://www.go-ne.gov.uk/
North West
Venue: Reaseheath College, Cheshire and Penrith, Cumbria
Dates and Venues
16 February 2006 - Reaseheath College, Cheshire
17 February 2006 - Newton Rigg, Penrith, Cumbria
Contact: Rebecca Kitchingman. Tel: 0161-952 4278
Email: Rebecca.kitchingman@gonw.gsi.gov.uk
South East
Venue: (1) Hampshire; (2) Kent
Date: 8 March 2006.
Contact: David Pryce-Jones, Tel: 01483 882255
Email: dpryce-jones.gose@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.go-se.gov.uk/gose/publicHealth/healthImprovement/food/
South West
Dates and Venues:
Thursday 2 March 2006 - Bridgwater Rugby Club, Somerset
Friday 3 March 2006 - Eagle House Hotel, Launceston, Cornwall
Contact: Andy Berry Tel: 0117 900 1928
Email: andy.berry@gosw.gsi.gov.uk
Website; www.gosw.gov.uk http://ppfood.net.countryside.gov.uk/
West Midlands
Venue: Stratford-upon-Avon College
Date: 1 March 2006
Contacts: Nigel Shutes. Tel: 01902 693176
Email: nigel.shutes@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Or: Jackie Mackenzie, tel: 01905 362987. Email: jacqueline@defra.gsi.gov.uk Website; http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/home.htm
Yorkshire and the Humber
Venue: three events to be held at different locations spread around the region. Dates 14 February 2006 - Stockbridge Technology Centre, Cawood, nr Selby 13 March 2006 - Brooklands, Dodworth, Barnsley 14 March 2006 - Rudstone Walk, North Cave, near Kingston-upon-Hull
Contact: Ian Smith, Tel: 01423 546129, Email: ians@yecyas.co.uk