Food and Drink Forum considers post-Emda funding options
East Midlands business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum said that it is considering submitting a bid for the second round of funding from the government’s £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund (RGF) as it expects its funding to be “significantly reduced” after the demise of regional development agency Emda.
Speaking to Insider, managing director Fiona Anderson said that it was vital that the government recognised the needs of start up and fledgling businesses within the industry once funding is axed.
Anderson said that the membership organisation was in a fortunate position, as it received income from several sources.
“We are part funded by Emda, but we also receive income from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and from our membership.
We are currently looking into several options for funding going forward – we didn’t submit a bid for funding from the first round of the government’s RGF bidding, but we are considering a bid for the second round.
“What is clear is that the funds coming into business support in the future will be significantly reduced, and that businesses will have to pay for more of the advice and guidance that they receive.”
Based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, the Food and Drink Forum covers Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.
Anderson added that she hoped the organisation would continue to provide the same level of services post-Emda as it did previously.
“We want to bring value to the region, and carry on giving advice to the hundreds of businesses like we have done over the years.
“In the past few years, we have definitely seen a rise in the number of membership requests we’ve had – which shows that the service is required, and is needed in the East Midlands.”
She added that while the number of publicly-funded programmes which the forum offered would be reduced, support services for collaborative distribution, manufacturing efficiencies, food technical services, and training would still be in place.
However, Anderson said that she worried for the futures of start-up and fledgling businesses, which may not receive investment following the government cuts.
“Start-ups and young businesses will undoubtedly find it very difficult to get access to finance”, she said. “It’s vital that the government recognises the importance of the food and drink sector in the region, and makes sure that there are provisions in place to support it.”
