Partnership Opportunities

The Food WorksSW announces first ever partnership opportunity 

The South West’s only dedicated food and drink innovation centre, The Food WorksSW, is excited to announce its first ever partnership opportunity that will give businesses the chance to support both existing and emerging food and drink brands, and become an integral part of the country’s food, drink and hospitality scene.

Created by North Somerset Council and operated by the Future Food Partnership, a not-for-private-profit Community Interest Company, The Food WorksSW provides start-ups, established companies and hospitality businesses with the experience and equipment they need to grow and innovate. Located in Weston-super-Mare, less than 30 minutes from Bristol, the centre is the only one in the South West. For many businesses, it is not only an important and exciting place but also a crucial step in their business evolution. 

Since opening in 2020, the centre has supported 300 businesses, helping them to develop, diversify and grow their product and menu offerings, and aims to help many more in the coming years through enhanced facilities and resources. 

Simon Gregory, Operations Director of The Food WorksSW said, “We’re delighted to be opening up the opportunity for businesses of all kinds to become a Food WorksSW partner.  Partnering with us brings a host of benefits from reaching new customers to free use of our facilities as well as being a CSR force for good.  Your company will also have a profile on-site and you will be contributing to the continuing growth of this one of a kind food and drink innovation centre in the South West. 

“We’re looking to hear from companies who are committed to supporting food and drink producers who use Food WorksSW to expand their business, develop new products, get together in the meeting rooms or navigate food regulations. With partners, we can invest in our centre and continue offering businesses the very best equipment, kitchens, expert advice and inspiration.”

Pies being made in the Bakery kitchen

Butcombe Brewery in the Commercial Kitchen

The Food WorksSW features five specialist development kitchens with state-of-the-art equipment, 12 food grade business units, in-house technical experts, a business lounge and coffee shop (open to all businesses), meeting room and conference facilities and hosts multiple industry training and seminar events throughout the year. The development kitchens are available for flexible short-term contract hire for food and drink businesses of all sizes, along with the meeting room and conference facilities. 

Zoe Plant, New Product Development and Innovation Manager in Trial Kitchen

Zoe Plant, New Product Development and Innovation Manager in Drinks Kitchen

Technical support packages are also available at the centre and are designed to help businesses navigate their way through a range of food disciplines – from new product development and quality assurance hygiene to food safety and efficiency.

For more information about Food WorksSW, visit foodworks-sw.co.uk, or follow @foodworks_sw on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

To find out more about The Food WorksSW partnership opportunities, please contact Simon Gregory, Operations Director: simon@foodworks-sw.co.uk. 

- ENDS -

For further information, images or interviews, please contact RAW Food & Drink PR:

Hanna China: 07702 031956 / hanna@rawfoodanddrinkpr.co.uk or Rebecca Payne: 07789 557234 / rebecca@rawfoodanddrink.co.uk

About The Food WorksSW

• The centre was created by North Somerset Council following feedback from food and drink producers that they needed facilities and support as it wasn't available elsewhere. For many, this limited their ability to grow their business and create jobs. The centre now helps UK-based businesses of all kinds - from start-ups to well-established companies and hospitality businesses - to grow or diversify their product offering. Not only does this support the sector, it underpins the council’s goal to strengthen economic growth across the area.

• The centre is operated by the Future Food Partnership, a not-for-private-profit Community Interest Company.

• The Food WorksSW food innovation centre is home to five development kitchens, each containing specialist equipment centred around creating different products including dairy, bakery and drinks. These are available for flexible short-term hire by food and drink businesses of all sizes to test, develop and manufacture their products. Specific information about the kitchens and the equipment available can be found at www.foodworks-sw.co.uk/development-kitchen-hire.

• The development kitchens, which are available with or without onsite technical and development support, contain specialist equipment tailored to the areas within the industry - bakery, dairy, drinks, commercial and trial. Flexible short-term contract hire is available for businesses of all sizes to test, develop and manufacture their food and drink products, or dishes, with prices starting from just £96.90 per day (including VAT).

• The Food WorksSW technical team provides businesses with support including food safety and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP); developing a product; scaling up production; product costing; labelling compliance; and certification such as British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA). More information can be found at www.foodworks-sw.co.uk/technical-support. Support bundles are also now available: www.foodworks-sw.co.uk/bundles 

• All of the 12 on-site food-grade business units at The Food WorksSW are currently let and in use by food and drink producers. With 24/7 access to the secure sites, the units contain food-grade non-slip resin flooring, a staff kitchen and changing area, roller shutter doors, three and single phase electricity, video intercom system and access control, discounted use of the development kitchen space and meeting rooms, access to specialist business and technical development support and free business membership with site operators, The Food & Drink Forum.

• The food and drink innovation centre also includes meeting rooms, conference facilities and a coffee shop where events can be hosted. Anyone is welcome - businesses do not have to operate in the food and drink sector to book these facilities.