An £11.4m new enterprise hub has opened outdoors Norwich with ambitions to fulfil East Anglia’s potential as a powerhouse foods and drinks producer.
The Broadland Meals Innovation Centre was hailed as a “game-changer for the area’s agri-food sector” throughout its launch occasion on the Meals Enterprise Park (FEP) at Easton.
By providing enterprise incubation amenities and innovation help, it goals to enhance the proportion of home-grown meals processed within the area, and retain extra of its worth within the native financial system.
Greater than 100 guests – together with council leaders, funding companions and potential tenants – have been proven across the 13 food-grade manufacturing items, in addition to convention amenities and sensory and check kitchens.
The centre shall be a flagship centrepiece of the FEP, which is already residence to Condimentum, which mills mustard flour for Colman’s, and the world’s largest vertical farm being constructed by Fischer Farms.
Trudy Mancini-Boyle, deputy chief of Broadland District Council, mentioned she was “thrilled and proud” to lastly welcome guests to those “excellent meals grade amenities” – a collaborative challenge first mentioned in 2018.
She introduced that “agency commitments” had been made on two of the 4 bigger items, with “a promising pipeline of additional severe enquiries” – and bulletins anticipated quickly on the primary tenants.
“That is such an vital challenge,” she mentioned. “There’s a clear want to deal with one of many weaker elements of our agri-food sector, which is meals processing.
“Norfolk is the most important agricultural producer within the UK, however solely fifth for meals processing. 50pc of the produce grown right here leaves the county to be processed outdoors the world.”
Centre supervisor Sarah Pierce mentioned: “It’s unimaginable to have the ability to present individuals round, and it’ll not be too lengthy earlier than we see individuals producing meals out right here.
“We have now bought a beautiful house to make use of, however when the constructing was constructed we didn’t know who was going to make use of it, or how they may use it.
“Quickly we’re going to have 13 totally different companies in right here and we’ll all have to be taught to work collectively and work together collectively as a group. It is vitally thrilling.”
Guests tour the amenities throughout the opening of the Broadland Meals Innovation Centre – Credit score: Chris Hill
The challenge can also be urging personal corporations, public sector our bodies and teachers to affix a wider “Meals Innovation Cluster”, led by the College of East Anglia (UEA).
Cluster supervisor Alex Larter mentioned it aimed to empower collaborations alongside the provide chain from farms to retailers, as nicely as harnessing the meals science experience of the close by Norwich Analysis Park (NRP).
“We need to be that connector and enabler for the entire meals sector,” he added.
In the meantime, eligible companies are additionally being provided bespoke innovation help co-ordinated by Hethel Innovation, and entry to a funding pot totalling £250,000 for consultancy to assist their enterprise take its subsequent steps.
The innovation centre’s funding contains £5.7m from the European Regional Growth Fund (ERDF) and a £4.14m funding by the New Anglia Native Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Additional funding got here from supply companions Broadland District Council, Hethel Innovation and the College of East Anglia.
Chris Starkie, chief government of New Anglia LEP, talking on the opening of the Broadland Meals Innovation Centre – Credit score: Chris Hill
Chris Starkie, chief government of New Anglia LEP, mentioned: “It’s wonderful to see this constructing come to fruition. We predict it’s a actually good funding and an incredible vote of confidence within the meals sector in Norfolk and Suffolk.
“There’s a actual want for this facility. We’re nice at rising stuff right here and now we have nice experience within the UEA and the NRP in rising issues in thrilling methods, however now we have some technique to go to being one of the best at meals processing.
“Why ship all our uncooked supplies down the A14 to the Midlands after we must be doing that right here?
“And we need to be doing that with small companies, new companies, the companies of the longer term. That may be a actual focus.”
Clarke Willis, a director of the Meals Enterprise Park, thanked all of the challenge companions and paid tribute to the “imaginative and prescient and drive” of landowner Ian Alston.
Clarke Willis, director of the Meals Enterprise Park, talking on the opening of the Broadland Meals Innovation Centre – Credit score: Chris Hill
Guests tour the amenities throughout the opening of the Broadland Meals Innovation Centre – Credit score: Chris Hill
Supply: Jap Each day Press
