By Grimsby launches new UK Food Valley pilot
The Grimsby seafood cluster has reportedly launched a new UK Food Valley pilot to improve the efficiency of the fish processing workforce.
The £430,000 programme will last for the six months and is being supported by the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) in Holbeach, part of the University of Lincoln, as well as North East Lincolnshire Council and the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.
It is also part of the Government’s Community Renewal Fund.
The aim of the UK Food Valley pilot programme is to ‘shape a new centre for food processing education, research and innovation’ in Grimsby, Greater Lincolnshire LEP reported.
In other words, the food processing cluster in the seafood industry (as well as other departments, including food logistics and cold storage) is set to receive expert advise and training which will improve their efficiency.
The fund not only benefits the food manufacturing and processing sectors, but also the hospitality and retail departments.
Val Braybrooks, Dean of the National Centre for Food Manufacturing and leader of the UK Food Valley pilot project (alongside Simon Dwyer), reportedly said: “This fund is so exciting; it really opens up the opportunity to put some resources into Grimsby to help our businesses.
“The process was highly competitive.
“North East Lincolnshire Council has led the charge with a number of projects, and we’re really pleased we have got this piece of work to help our sector.
“We have got to make sure we deliver the huge impact everyone really wants and we only have a short window of time.
“It finishes in June, so we have a lot to do.
“We have a great team of people to work with and organisations such as Grimsby Institute, Seafish, North East Lincolnshire Council and the Grimsby and Humber Seafood Alliance.”
Simon Dwyer, who represents the fish merchanting companies in Grimsby, reportedly said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for all the businesses in the region, whether a large business or an independent mobile fishmonger, or somewhere in between.
“Grimsby’s seafood cluster is one of the largest in the northern hemisphere, employing over 5,500 directly in seafood and fish processing and another 10,000 in the supply chain.”
He added: “We are home to the protected geographical indication for Traditional Grimsby Smoked Fish and we have world-class people working in the industry today interested in innovation, sustainability and marketing, doing great things.”
(Image: Paul Einerhand)
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