The newest outputs from Venture HELIX, an initiative developed to spice up innovation and effectivity within the Welsh foods and drinks business, present it has delivered over £235 million of impression, because it launched in 2016.
The Welsh Authorities and EU-funded Venture HELIX is a pan-Wales strategic initiative, delivered by Meals Innovation Wales, which is a partnership of three meals centres primarily based in north, mid/west and south Wales.
Eligible corporations have entry to a spread of experience to assist them develop and succeed by means of creating progressive new merchandise, growing their effectivity and adopting a strategic method to enterprise.
Up to now Venture HELIX has delivered clear advantages to the Welsh foods and drinks business together with:
- £235 million impression
- 529 jobs created and an additional 2755 safeguarded
- 996 people and 628 companies supported
- 1039 coaching days undertaken
- 394 enterprise start-ups assisted
- 905 new markets accessed, and
- 1587 new foods and drinks merchandise developed
Commenting on the success, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, mentioned:
“These figures present what a optimistic impression Venture HELIX has had on our foods and drinks business and underlines the significance of serving to companies develop, innovate, compete and attain new markets.
“A £235 million increase, new jobs created and others safeguarded, new merchandise developed, new companies launched, a extra expert workforce – all that is serving to to additional improve Wales’s nice and rising status within the worldwide foods and drinks business. I’d urge producers and producers to discover what assist is out there by means of Venture HELIX and the way its experience and superior technical amenities could be of profit to them.”
Corporations who’ve obtained assist from Venture HELIX embrace Puffin Produce. Managing Director, Huw Thomas mentioned:
“On account of the data and experience from Meals Innovation Wales, we’ve been in a position to adapt and strengthen our high quality administration techniques at Puffin Produce; leading to sustaining our BRCGS and Purple Tractor certification. The assist we’ve obtained from Venture HELIX has been invaluable and we look ahead to persevering with to work with them.”
Alana Spencer, of Ridiculously Wealthy added:
“The assistance obtainable from Meals Innovation Wales was superb and we couldn’t have carried out it with out them. They have been there each step of the way in which, earlier than we had even constructed the bakery! They helped us with any query, giant or small and even got here out to go to us on website on quite a few events to information us in the easiest way to change into SALSA authorized. The funding obtainable to companies in Wales is extremely useful, this course of would have taken for much longer had we not had this assist and should have considerably delayed development for the enterprise.”
In the meantime, for Emma Morris, Trailhead Positive Meals’ Enterprise Improvement Supervisor, mentioned:
“The recommendation and assist the Meals Expertise Centre has given us has been invaluable. With their assist we’ve been in a position to retain our SALSA certification. With out such certification it’s tough for meals companies to develop and it has provided us nice alternatives to realize new clients and increase into new markets.
“Not solely has the centre helped us however the related documentation has impressed us to take possession of the method so we can study and develop. The entire group on the Meals Expertise Centre has been supportive and useful. They’ve been there all through, reassuring us that we are taking place the suitable path.”
Professor David Lloyd, on behalf of Meals Innovation Wales, expressed his delight on the newest figures.
“Via Venture HELIX we’ve been in a position to assist foods and drinks companies in Wales by means of upskilling workforce, supporting new enterprise start-ups, creating and safeguarding jobs and serving to companies develop and thrive.
“The foods and drinks sector is important to Wales’s economic system and by working intently with the Welsh Authorities, academia and the Welsh meals business we’ve set formidable targets for innovation, job creation and financial development throughout the foods and drinks sector.”
For additional details about Venture HELIX funded assist, go to https://foodinnovation.wales/funded-support/
