Business and Innovation Projects. News - 22 September 2020

Experts ready to support D2N2 food and drink manufacturers

Experts at the Food Innovation Centre are reaching out to food and drink manufacturers in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire with the offer of some free technical support as they head into Autumn and prepare for Christmas.

The Food Innovation Centre, based at the University of Nottingham, can help food and drink producers with many aspects of scientific development and is reminding businesses to get in touch for support if they need it.

Available to food and drink manufacturing SMEs in the D2N2 area, the support can take many different forms from help with product development and packaging, measures to adopt a more sustainable approach to production, ways to switch to online sales, or making the most of a new consumer trend.

Experts at the Food Innovation Centre on hand to offer free advice include food technologists, with experience across soft drinks, the dairy sector, and confectionery in large and SME plus brewing experts and research associates focussing on sustainable production and healthy eating to bring the most up-to-date and accurate global knowledge to food and drink SMEs.

Richard Worrall, who heads the Food Innovation Centre, said: “The Coronavirus pandemic has brought about some big changes in how the food and drink sector operates, both from the consumer and producer perspectives and our role is to offer support to manufacturers working in the industry in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to help them overcome challenges and to grab the new, unique opportunities.

“We have a skilled team that can advise and support on many different aspects of business development or offer signposts to others with expertise in the food and drink manufacturing sector.

“We can access the latest scientific knowledge and thinking around food and nutrition, including food structure and flavour, sensory science, brewing science, alternative proteins, healthy eating and sustainable production and apply it to SME businesses development.”

“We can also tap into the expertise of our colleagues in Digital Manufacturing, Energy Technologies or at the Business School and work with the Food & Drink Forum, Nottingham Trent University and the D2N2 Growth Hub to coordinate these support services.”

Food Innovation Centre

The Food Innovation Centre has already supported over 170 food and drink manufacturers in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area, across a number of categories including brewers, bakers, pie makers, drinks manufacturers, ice cream and ice lolly makers, pizza base manufacturers and more.

The support is available under the Driving Research and Innovation project – a three-year project that runs until the end of December 2022.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the D2N2, the project is run by the Food Innovation Centre at the University of Nottingham School of Biosciences, in conjunction with the Chemistry Innovation Laboratory in the School of Chemistry and Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and in association with the Midlands Engine.

It is a unique collaboration project that provides free specialist innovation support to small and medium-sized businesses.

For more information about the Food Innovation Centre and to get in touch with experts who can help, visit the Food Innovation Centre website

Keep up to date with all the latest news from D2N2 by signing up to our Newsletter.

Latest News & Events

29 November 2023

D2N2 LEP Annual Event and AGM, 7 December 2023 12 – 2.30pm: last call for registrations

Read Article

22 November 2023

D2N2 LEP welcomes the announcement of an East Midlands Investment Zone in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement

Read Article

22 November 2023

Creative businesses in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire set to benefit from funding to help them thrive

Read Article

16 November 2023

New showreel videos promote the impact of the D2N2 Growth Hub

Read Article

15 November 2023

Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, supported by D2N2, launches nationally to minimise barriers to business for under-represented groups

Read Article

10 November 2023

D2N2 LEP Chair, Elizabeth Fagan, shares her thoughts on the strategy and plans for East Midlands devolution, on track to happen in Spring 2024

Read Article

10 November 2023

David Williams, Deputy Chair of D2N2 LEP, receives his MBE in Derbyshire

Read Article

30 October 2023

Mark Rogers, Interim Chief Officer for the East Midlands Devolution Programme, to speak at D2N2 Annual Event and AGM

Read Article

27 October 2023

Milestone achieved for East Midlands devolution

Read Article

26 October 2023

D2N2 Connected Futures partnership featured in London showcase

Read Article

Get in touch.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up
Address

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
8 Experian Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP

Social

Our Partners