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Broadland Food Innovation Centre

A place for food and drink entrepreneurs

The compelling combination of Centre, Support and Community has proved to be a tested and effective model, helping food and drink innovators scale up their operations and secure their commercial futures. Located on the Food Enterprise Park, and close to the University of East Anglia and the Norwich Research Park, the location is ideal for any food processing business with a plan to innovate and grow.

“The Broadland Food Innovation Centre underpins the Council’s commitment to supporting the region’s food and drink business sector. Launched in 2022 the BFIC has become a centre of excellence, giving businesses the opportunity to expand their ideas and grow their ambition and commercial operations.” Councillor Martin Booth, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development

Centre

Designed purely for food and drink businesses, everything is in one place, for food innovation, presentation and production. Businesses can move in and produce within this secure site or become a virtual member while producing elsewhere. Or hire kitchens and meeting spaces for a few hours. The Centre’s management team are on site to help all businesses using the Centre.

Support

The Innovation Support Adviser provides expert advice on strategy, success planning, grants and research resources and is designed to support growth and innovation. This support includes close links with the Economic Growth team at Broadland District Council.

Community

It’s easy for like-minded businesses linked to the Centre to meet and share experiences, using the Centre as a communal space. In addition, the cluster Tastebuds Collective, for food and drink innovators, offers a further network of producers, suppliers, researchers and buyers.

Working in partnership

As the owner of the Centre, Broadland District Council and its partners have ensured the continuity of project, with Hethel Innovation running the expert Innovation Support services and managing the Centre with its bespoke food-grade facilities.

The University of East Anglia continues to develop and expanding the Food and Drink Cluster, rebranded as the Tastebuds Collective in 2024.

Broadland District Council is funding Innovation Support Adviser role through income generated by the Centre. Broadland District Council, with funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supports Tastebuds Collective as a Founding Member. The intention is to build on the valuable work achieved to date, accelerating business growth and adding value to the local economy through food processing and drink production.

About the Broadland Food Innovation Centre project

The Broadland Food Innovation Centre project received £5.7 million of funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (formerly known as the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

This ERDF project stage was supported by New Anglia LEP, which has contributed £4.14m, including £2.7m from the HM Government Getting Building Fund. The balance of funds come from Broadland District Council, The University of East Anglia and Hethel Innovation.

For further information please contact the Economic Growth Team at Broadland District Council.

Economic Growth Team

Tanya Nelson