Food Technology Centres

Description

Brief description of the instrument and its modus operandi

Three food technology centres across Wales (North, mid and South) - advice and consultancy facilities offering technical services to business start-ups, SME’s and existing food manufacturers. They play a strategic role in the technical support of the Welsh Food Industry. Research and Development buildings in each have fully equipped process areas and manufacturing facilities available for commercial hire. They are also used as “launch pads” for new and innovative ideas in the Welsh Agri-Food Industry, working closely with the Welsh Government Food Directorate. The centres are equipped with the latest equipment and facilities to give clients the chance to develop the widest range of new food products. Though the three centres operate slightly differently, all offer manufacturing facilities available for commercial hire at subsidised rates for small welsh businesses  They offer manufacturing facilities ready to use, and can be hired to make products for shelf life trials or test the market. Help is available for existing manufacturers with creating new products or improving production efficiency. The centre in Mid Wales also has incubation units on site for hire to small start-up businesses in the first few years of operation.

Which problem the instrument is supposed to solve?

Lack of R&D facilities dedicated to developing the food industry, accessible to small producers with limited budgets.

Purpose or main objective / overall goal of the instrument?

Support the Welsh food industry to develop, become more innovative and competitive in the global market

Side objectives/goals of the instrument?

Stimulate the economy, create jobs.

Innovation content or potential of the instrument?

Increase in number and quality of new products coming to market. Stimulate growth of small businesses in food sector. Help Welsh food sector businesses complete in a global market.

Which laws and regulations support the implement of this instrument?

Wales Food Strategy, Food for Wales: Food from Wales, supports all the aims of the centre. It also helps with compliance to national and international hygiene regulations.

The initiator/promoter of the instrument?

Government agency: The Food Centres in North and Mid Wales were set up by their local councils in conjunction with the Welsh Government and the European Union Objective 1 programme. The Centre in South Wales is part of Cardiff Metropolitan University, and has also received support from the Welsh Government.

Which organizations are involved in the operationalization of the instrument?

Food Centre Llangefni is part of Coleg Menai Further Education College. Food Centre in Mid Wales is managed by Ceredigion County Council. All centres still receive subsidies from Welsh Government but also generate some of their funds through charges for

How the monitoring is ensured?

Each centre is monitored by the respective management organisation: Ceredigion County Council, Coleg Menai and Cardiff Metropolitan University, who monitor numbers of users and the demographics relating to them, as well as ensuring quality, compliance with relevant legislation and hygiene standards remain high.

How the compliance is ensured?

No enforcement necessary – use of the facility is voluntary

How is the overall performance of the instrument?

Information of performance (numbers of users, successful business start-ups supported etc. is being collated and will be added to this section when it is received from the centres.

Brief description of the context for the emergence of the instrument

As mentioned above the instrument came about in response to the Government Food Strategy, link below to the latest version. And hinged on the availability of objective 1 and RDP funding http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/foodandfisheries/foodandmarketdevelopmentpubs/foodstratdoc/?lang=en

Have any of the items mentioned above changed since the instrument entered into force?

No

Is there any qualitative or quantitative study of the impacts of the instrument?

Yes, please specify

Details

There have been evaluations of performance of the facilities related to their funding, but I haven’t managed to get hold of them yet - still working on it. Will update when I can

More information about properties

Instrument
Year	1996
Policy area
Affected activity
Affected actors	Processor
Products	Other NWFP
Subject
Promoter/initiator
Zone
Countries	United Kingdom
Regions (NUTS 2)	West Wales and The Valleys
Focus on NWFP
Document category
Instrument type
Legal status	"{{{Legal status }}}" is not in the list of possible values (Binding, Non-binding) for this property.
Geographical scope	National