On 26th July the first meeting of the LEP Food Group with DEFRA was held in London. With 24 LEPs now involved the LEP Food Group brings together all the LEPs for whom food is a priority sector with DEFRA and officials from across government to look at ways to sustainably grow the UK food economy.
The group is co-chaired by Ruth Carver, Director of Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Bal Dhoot, Industrial Strategy Team at DEFRA. Martin Collison is co-ordinating support for the LEPs on the Group. The first meeting focused on exports and trade with colleagues from DIT. Future group meetings, the next of which is in October on workforce and skills issues, will also look at innovation, SME growth and other issues which are critical to the growth of the food chain.
The Group will also help inform the Food and Drink Sector Council on which GLLEP Chair Ursula Lidbetter MBE represents all LEPs.