Leicester and Leicestershire Food and Drink Co-ordinator 12 th May 2010 Matthew Kempson

1. Food Steering Group Leicester and Leicestershire Food and Drink Co-ordinator 12th May 2010 Matthew Kempson Rural Partnership’s Manager, Leicestershire County Council

2. Presentation outline • Policy drivers (Defra, MAA, LRP) • Current scheduled activity • Food and Drink Co-ordinator • Project Outline • Governance Arrangements • Timetable • Open discussion

3. Policy Drivers • National • Food 2030 (Defra) • Regional (emda) • RES – East Midlands Food and Drink Sector Strategy (2008) • Sub-Regional • Multi-Area Agreement (Leicester and Leicestershire) • Leicester and Leicestershire Economic Assessment • Strategic Commissioning Framework for Economic Growth, 2010-14 – “the area is regarded as a centre of excellence for food and drink”. • Leicestershire Rural Strategy, 2007-14 • Rural Economic Priorities, 2009-12 (food and drink)

4. Other activity • East Midlands Food Forum – dedicated sub-regional officer • Melton Food Partnership • Skills and training Routeways – Employment Skills Board • Leicester Market events • On-going farmers markets (Leicestershire Food Links) • LRP INSPIRE Leicestershire programme, 2010-12 • Leicester and Leicestershire Food Fortnight 2010 • Food and Drink Directory 2010 (LFL) • Rural business capital grants • East Midlands Food Festival (Brooksby Hall)

5. Food and Drink Co-ordinator • Overarching objectives… • Develop a sub-regional food and drink strategy and action plan • Support the development of food and drink networks • Support skills and training activities • Progress food and drink related tourism development and promotion • Advance business support and infrastructure development • Promote healthy eating/food education

6. Food and Drink Co-ordinator • Appointment of co-ordinator on a consultancy basis • 2 years funding – contract through tender to end March 2011 • Contracted outputs • E4. Business Support – number of businesses to improve their performance (year 1 – 20) • Referrals to Business Link and UKTI (year 1 – 10) • Targeted workshops and networking events

7. Governance structure Leadership Board Co-ordination Group Rural Group (LRP) Business and Enterprise S&P Group Employment Skills Board Food and Drink Co-ordinator Steering Group Food and Drink Delivery Sub-Groups Leicester and Leicestershire Food and Drink Consortium

8. Food and Drink Co-ordinator Steering Group • Key responsibilities… • Strategic steer for the project • Oversight of co-ordinator work programme • Approval of strategy and action plan • Approval of expenditure plans • Liaison with partner organisations • Development of effective networks and partnership arrangements to support successful delivery of the project • Assisting with the promotion of the project through various channels

9. Timetable • June 2010 Consultancy appointment. Meeting of Co- ordinator Steering Group • July 2010 Launch event to commence the development of the strategy and action plan • September 2010 Wider consultation on food and drink sector strategy • November 2010 Launch of food and drink strategy and action plan. Commencement of delivery • March 2011 End of year/project report from Co-ordinator

10. Questions and open discussion