Growing Kent & Medway

If you have a plant-based food or drink product you want to take to market, don't miss out on our free three-month support programme. Our Food Accelerator gives you access to the cutting-edge technical research facilities at the Medway Food Innovation Centre, free business support and mentoring. All with the added benefit of being in a supportive network of like-minded business owners. Our next in-take begins in February '25. Find out more & apply now. https://lnkd.in/efXtQwVT Valerie Pondaven

Exciting news for innovative food and drink businesses! The next Food Accelerator Programme from Growing Kent & Medway is launching in February 2025. If you have an innovative, healthy, and sustainable food or drink product and are ready to grow and scale, this is your chance. During this 3-month programme, successful applicants will receive: ✔️ Business support ✔️ Access to top technical experts, Food Scientists, and the Medway Food Innovation Centre ✔️ A dedicated mentor to guide your journey ✔️ Monthly workshops across Kent & Medway ✔️ Weekly online masterclasses covering branding, marketing, food safety and sustainability Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to take your food business to the next level: https://hubs.la/Q02Zyb1L0 Register your interest here: https://hubs.la/Q02ZydTp0

Intellectual Property is created the moment an idea takes shape. For many food and drink startups, IP becomes one of their most valuable assets. Safeguarding your ideas, brand and recipes from the outset is essential to prevent competitors, research partners or even customers from taking advantage of your innovation. Aman Rana from SANDERANA will be running the Growing Kent & Medway online masterclass at 9.30am on Tuesday 26 Nov. https://lnkd.in/eZPr3P_7

We were back at the Kent Event Centre again on Wednesday, this time for the Vineyard & Winery Show 🍇🍷 It was great to see such a variety of businesses, from prospective growers to established producers, visiting the Growing Kent & Medway and Niab stalls. Walking around the event, the presence of so many businesses aimed at improving the #sustainability of the wine industry was inspiring. We were grateful to be joined by Belinda Kemp PhD, whose expertise was widely sought after, and Lucy Manukyan, from Deep Planet, who did an excellent job explaining their Growing Kent & Medway funded VineAI project. This project is using satellite imagery and #machinelearning for the early detection of fungal diseases in #vineyards 🛰️🌿 Thanks to the Vineyard & Winery Show and the Kent Event Centre for hosting us and to everyone who stopped by.

🍇 Join us at the Vineyard & Winery Show tomorrow at Stall M35 🍷 We'll be talking about: • Our project with Belinda Kemp PhD (Niab) and Deep Planet, using #AI for disease management in vineyards 🦠 • Our #Mentoring Programme, which pairs established businesspeople up with aspiring and new entrepreneurs 👩🏻💼 • Our Food #Accelerator, which helps small food and drink businesses scale up 🚀 • And much more... 🗣️ Find us at Stall M35 (next to Niab)

If you're selling food and drink products via your website, don't miss our next webinar with Lisa Whalley-Smith 🌍 Book now to register for free https://lnkd.in/g9BDGyVm 'How to double your website revenue' Thursday 21st November at 9.30am.

MFIC is #hiring a postdoctoral research associate in Food Rheology. Know anyone who might be interested? https://lnkd.in/ehBhM9G8

Take our annual Business Innovation Survey and be in with the chance of winning one of five Kentish Christmas Hampers from Macknade.

Food and drink businesses face unique packaging challenges, like preserving product freshness and safety while minimising waste and carbon footprint.  Join us on Thursday at 9.30 for our weekly Growing Kent & Medway online session on Sustainable Packaging. Book your place on https://lnkd.in/e79QKyKB

We have some fantastic speakers and topics lined up for you this November. Josh Pitman from Priory Direct - Planet Friendly Packaging - B Corp™ will explore how you can make your food and drink packaging more sustainable. Lisa Whalley-Smith 🌍 from Klarity Marketing will help you grow your online sales and understand your web metrics. Aman Rana from SANDERANA will explain how to leverage intellectual property to protect your food and drink brand. Check out our free online webinars and register now: https://lnkd.in/ey6SAJsq