Reaseheath College, Cheshire, is beefing up services for processors in north west England, having applied for funding through the North West Regional Development Agency (NWRDA) to build a 'business incubator unit'.
Derek Allen, food commercial manager at Reaseheath, says the cash could either be used to build development kitchens or - more likely - a miniature processing plant. The facilities could then be used by small start-up businesses, farm businesses looking to diversify or larger businesses exploring different processing techniques. "What's missing in the public sector is the ability to make small production batches, for example, for test marketing," says Allen.
He says larger businesses often found this too disruptive to their standard production runs and not worth their time. The college is also working with the NWRDA to set up a Food & Enterprise Hub, for which £1M has been allocated over three years. The hub will look particularly at technology transfer and innovation projects.
A further scheme concerns setting up a body linking food processors to training providers with the right facilities for their food science and technical projects. Reaseheath College, Chester University, Liverpool John Moores and the University of Central Lancashire are involved, aiming to team up to form Food Science & Technical Solutions.
"We're trying to place projects businesses want done with the most appropriate institution and are developing a framework that would enable us to do that," says Allen. Commercial tie-ups could include anything from product development and reformulation to testing new processing methods. For example, says Allen, Reaseheath had advanced steam infusion facilities for treating milk and dairy firms have already expressed an interest in using this equipment. "We're doing a lot of ingredients application work, including trials for firms pursuing health and nutrition claims."
The college, which is the dairy champion within the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink Manufacture, is already involved in product development with companies ranging from Robert Wiseman Dairies to HJ Heinz. Allen says he expects Food Science & Technical Solutions to be launched in the early part of this year, pending further meetings between those involved. Reaseheath was ranked as 'outstanding' in all criteria at its last Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED) inspection.
It has also been declared a Beacon College for offering outstanding teaching and learning.