A huge new innovation centre for food and drink manufacturers has opened in North Somerset.
Food Works is a multi-million-pound enterprise zone in Weston-super-Mare that was built after North Somerset Council secured funding from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.
The state-of-the-art centre has 12 business units and development kitchens, meeting and conference rooms, a cafe and business lounge.
It also offers companies hands-on food technical and business support and access to sector-based training and networking, according to the website.
The idea is to connect local producers to collaborate, innovate, identify new markets and create jobs within the sector.
A spokesperson for Food Works said: “With concerns over the effects of the coronavirus crisis hitting the economy hard, the food and drink industry, listed as essential key workers, has seen some businesses facing increasing demand.
"The 12 business units and development kitchens are now available for anyone finding themselves needing more space during this time or those businesses who have had to diversify and are in need of an area to develop their products ready for delivery."
They added: “We appreciate that businesses still need to maintain high food management standards, train new staff in food safety, increase production capacity or examine the need to diversify into new markets and the team have useful resources that can help.”
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The centre has been handed over by North Somerset Council to industry body The Food and Drink Forum as part of a 15-year contract.
The Food Works site is funded by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund, which is administered by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca).