Foodie Devon / Producer's Area

Producer's Area

I.T. Training for your business

Attend a FREE workshop to find out how you can receive:

• Support and advice on what IT can do for YOUR small food business!
• Bespoke IT training package for just £6!
• Software advice and grants

Use this link to find out more about what IT can do for your business

Local Food Programme: Open to Applications

Local Food, a new £50 million grants programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is now open for applications.

The programme is managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) and is aimed at making locally grown food accessible and affordable to local communities.

Grants from £2,000 up to £500,000 will be awarded to not-for-profit groups and organisations in England to deliver projects such as growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food, composting and raising awareness of the benefits of such activities.

Applications for Small Grants (£2,000 to £10,000) and Main Grants (£10,001 to £300,000) can be made at any time.

Applications for Beacon Grants of £300,001 to £500,000 must be submitted by the end of June 2008. Visit www.localfoodgrants.org for more information.

How Foodie Devon and Devon County Council support the local food sector, and can help your business

Devon County Council is passionate about making Devon England's greenest county. Supporting Devon's food and drink sector is key to this because buying local food:

• Protects the environment (by reducing the distance your food travels)
• Strengthens Devon's economy
• Protects Devon's landscapes
• Supports rural communities and
• Sustains Devon's exceptional and unique products

You can find out more about the specific projects we do to support this sector by clicking on the links below.

• Tourism: Encouraging more local sourcing in the hospitality trade
• Sponsoring the Devon Celebration of Food 07
• Providing funding for the Blackdown Hills Local Products Strategy
• RAFAEL: A project which works with producers and encourages people to value Devon's produce
• Commissioning a food infrastructure study to look at where the gaps to growth are in Devon's food and drink sector and how Devon County Council can address these (more information to follow)