Food centre given £1m boost

A groundbreaking £2.1 million centre in south Staffordshire to help food and catering firms has moved a step closer after securing £1.2 million funding.

The proposed two-storey Food Technology Centre at Rodbaston College in Penkridge has been given the cash boost from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.

It has already received £500,000 from Staffordshire County Council. The aim of the centre is to support companies which are involved in the food and drink sector.

It will consist of five units for small companies in addition to 12 office units.

There will also be shared kitchen-space for product development and training.

Subject to planning approval, work is due to start later this year and it is hoped the centre will be ready for use by August.

Karen Wright, Advantage West Midlands food and drink cluster manager, said there are 6,000 food and drink companies in the West Midlands, employing 40,000 staff, and the sector is expected to grow by 2.5 per cent over the next five years.

She said: "Having access to shared facilities and being able to work with other companies who are facing similar challenges helps companies in the early stages of their development."

Ralph Alcock, principal at Rodbaston College, said: "The centre will have fully equipped food preparation areas enabling anyone with a business idea relating to food processing, packaging, distribution and so forth to get established."

Staffordshire's cabinet member for economic prosperity Councillor John Wakefield said: "Staffordshire is a county bursting with business energy and creativity and a proud tradition of fine quality food production. This new centre of expertise and research has all the ingredients for future economic growth."

By Jo Mason