Food and drink firms' grants | Taste the Seasons

Food and drink businesses in Derbyshire with bright ideas for innovation are being urged to apply for a share of a ?100,000 pot.

The?Food and Drink iNet, which covers the East Midlands, has been helping companies in the food and drink sector to introduce new products and new ways of working since 2008.

Now it has announced that the cash is available over the next financial year to provide grants of 40% towards innovation projects to small and medium-sized companies.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the iNet is now?appealing for manufacturing companies to come forward with their ideas.

?Innovation can take many different forms,? said director Richard Worrall. ?It may be new product development, introducing a new business strategy or adapting working processes to boost growth.

?We have supported around 600 companies with advice since we launched, and have given more than 80 grants to small?and medium-sized businesses to help with innovation and growth projects. The East Midlands food and drink sector has a strong pedigree of innovation and the iNet is keen to support it going forward.?

Among those who have received grants in the past are Dragons? Den participant Rico Mexican Kitchen, which was founded in Derbyshire.

Grants are available to companies working in food and drink or the supply chain, apart from primary producers, retailers and restaurants, unless they are looking to start manufacturing.

?Not only is this good news for food and drink manufacturers but it may also be of interest to consultants working in the sector who are helping clients to implement new ways of working or new products,? said Mr Worrall.

For further information, email info@foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

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