Help create a stronger business environment for the sector - Food & Drink: Manufacturing & Production
Food & Drink: Manufacturing and Production has been identified as one of the five business sectors to be given extra support from Haringey City Growth. As a firm operating in this sector we are calling on you to become involved in driving forward Haringey City Growth, a major government backed initiative, which aims to strengthen and increase the competitiveness and profitability of the sector.
WITH YOUR HELP HCG will benefit your company by creating an environment favourable for your business to flourish and grow.
“As a small/medium sized bakery business in Tottenham, I am happy to take a lead in this Cluster Action Group. By working together, I feel we businesses can make a real difference for the better locally – our business was born here and we hope to see it grow here. Join us and let’s make a difference in Haringey”. Paul O’Connell, Flourish Bakery. N17
How will it work?
1. Tell us what your business needs are
To ensure that future services and support is really demand driven, we need to ask as many businesses involved in this sector to tell us what you need and what pressures you face.
We have devised a brief questionnaire that will allow us to determine what these issues are and to set out a “Business Plan” for future activity.
We have already identified the following key issues facing this sector which we will be addressing in our future services and business support programmes:
• Recruitment: specialist and general
• Regulations: HASSUP/ICSTIS, general Food Hygiene and H&S
• New product development
• Funding
• Lean Process support
• Factory lay-out
• Logistics and supply chain
• Challenges related to location and local infrastructure
2. Join the Cluster Action Team
A Cluster Action Team (CAT) made up of ten or more sector businesses will be created and will capitalise on your combined business know-how to provide direction, determine priorities and then draw up a Business Plan. Miles Parker, Managing Director of Linx Associates Ltd, with specialist knowledge of the sector, has been engaged as Cluster Developer and is already working closely with key organisations in the sector including North London Chamber of Commerce and KIS training
3. Draw up The Business Plan
The Business Plan will be finalised by December 2007, but only after it has been agreed with a representative group of companies in this sector in Haringey.
Specifically, we aim to:
• Hold two general Network Meetings, open to all local businesses in the Sector
• Hold two Cluster Action Team meetings – over the coming months
• Start one key initiative, around which businesses can rally, that will drive up business or tackle key skills or a business issue
We will be working with Creative Food Solutions, London Metropolitan University, London Technology Network, London Manufacturing Advisory Service and some others, over time. Once coordinated, you will receive the information and it will be presented at the meetings, in a ‘joined-up’, business-like way.
ACTION: Let us know what would make your business stronger….
If you have not been contacted by us directly and want to know more about this initiative, please email or call Miles Parker, as below. It WILL be worth your while – the more businesses we hear from and learn about your needs, the more likely we are to be able to set up systems to help you.
Cluster Developer: Miles Parker
Linx Associates Ltd
T: 020 8520 8180/07976 618189
E: milesp@linxassociates.co.uk
www.linxassociates.co.uk
