West of England Food and Drink Support Initiative

Are you a food or drink business or setting one up and based in the West of England – Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire?

Do you need advice and help with a technical issue, developing a new product or looking at food certification schemes?

If yes to these then funded support is available to new and existing food and drink businesses funded by the West of England Councils, West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council and being provided by the Future Food Partnership CIC through Food WorksSW.

The West of England Food and Drink Support Scheme (WoEFDSI) is open to food producers, manufacturers, hospitality and food service businesses based in the area to help with technical and food development challenges faced by the businesses.

Technical and product development support, including:

  • Food safety plans for HACCP

  • Shelf life advice

  • Nutritional and labelling advice

  • Equipment and process layout advice

  • Costing reviews

  • Recipe development and reformulation

  • Product scale up

Support available

Kitchen and product development support for proof of concept:

  • Up to 2 days kitchen and product development support to develop a product from an idea that is safe to consume.

  • Various kitchen locations will be available across the West of England.

  • Hands on support from our team while developing your products.

Sector specific events and workshops

  • Various topics will be online or in person to maximise networking and information opportunities.

  • A particular area that will be covered will be preparing for and meeting buyers.

Food Certification Support

  • Help and guidance to set up suitable systems to meet certification requirements.

  • SALSA (Safe And Local Supplier Approval) this certification will help you to get listings in larger wholesalers and retailers.

The support can be delivered remotely or onsite depending on your business needs.

Wider business advice will be accessible through linked partner organisations for anything beyond food specific matters, including start up advice.

Businesses based in the Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire areas are eligible.

The interactive map includes the areas covered by the scheme.

This scheme is open to start ups, micro and small and medium sized enterprises.

If you would like to know more or discuss your ideas and support needs first, please contact the team on enquiries@foodworks-sw.co.uk or call us on 01934 287710.

To register your interest or apply to take part please click here.

Application Form