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Food & Drink

The food and drink sector, in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA), at £2.8 billion is the largest of the eight SWRDA priority sectors. The contribution of this sector of 4.7% to total regional GVA is above the national average. Nearly 40% of workers in this sector are self-employed. Small enterprises, those employing fewer than 50 employees, account for 99.5% of food and drink business sites. Of all the SWRDA key sectors, food and drink has the lowest proportion of its workforce with qualifications at Level 3 or higher. The proportions are well below the average for all industries in the South West (State of the Key Sectors, SWRDA, 2004).

Food & Drink Resources

Mapping of Skills Supply and Demand in the South West Food and Drink Sector (Feb 2002)

Good Practice Case Studies in the Food and Drink Sector (Mar 2002)

NVQ Progression Routes - Chapter on Food and Drink (SWRDA, Dec 2003)

South West Regional Development Agency Priority Sectors Working Paper 6 - Food and drink (Nov 2002)

South West Regional Development Agency Priority Sectors Working Paper 6 - Food and drink (Summary) (Nov 2002)

Sector Workforce Development Plan for the British Dairy Sector 2001-2005
[.pdf 94KB] (Dairy Training and Development Council, May 2001)

Land Based Sector Workforce Development Plan 2001-2002 (Lantra, Mar 2001)

>> South West - Key Regional Statistics
(Lantra, Mar 2001) [.pdf 24KB]

South West RDA SDF Projects on Food and Drink

Food & Drink Links

South West Food & Drink
South West Food & Drink is the "umbrella" trade organisation dedicated to the development of the food and drink industry throughout South West England.

Taste of the West
Taste of the West is a limited company led by a Board of Directors who represent the public, industry and community sector interests. Based in Exeter with the South West National Farmers' Union, and with a subsidiary office in Cornwall, the Board is supported by a Chief Executive and team who provide a variety of skills such as food technology, marketing, public relations, tourism, catering and information technology. Taste of the West receives ongoing support from DEFRA via Food from Britain.

Improve
Improve is the Sector Skills Council for Food and Drink Manufacturing across the UK.

Agrifood Centre
The Centre is a University of Plymouth Centre of Expertise specialising in the Information, Consultancy and Research, Training and Continuous Professional Development needs of the Agri-food sector.

Devon Food Links
A project aiming to increase the local consumption of food that is produced and processed within Devon.

Dorset Food Links
Aims to help farmers, independent retailers and communities co-operate to create a thriving local food economy.

Somerset Food Links
Somerset Food Links (SFL) is a not-for-profit Company that began as an enterprise of the South Somerset District Council in 1999 committed to developing a thriving and sustainable local food system throughout the county and neighbouring areas.

Gloucestershire Food Links
Gloucestershire Food Links was set up in 2002 to help develop a thriving trade in local produce.

Defra - Food and Drink
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pages on the food and drink sector.

Lantra Trust
Trailblazer Sector Skills Council for the land based industries sector.

Food and Drink Networks

South West Food and Drink Skills Network
Network web link

Funded by the South West RDA the South West Food and Drink Network exists to establish strategies and projects that support the development of this key sector in the South West.