Cross Hands Food Park is a dedicated 50-acre food park, the first in Wales,
and is located two minutes from the M4 on the EuroRoutebetween Ireland
and London. The site has been developed with gas, water and sewerage systems
to meet the needs of modern food processors. This strategic cluster of food processing, packaging and transport companies is the vision of The Welsh Assembly Government and Carmarthenshire County Council - a key member of the Swansea Bay Partnership. (www.swansea-bay.com)
To date, the food park has enjoyed a spend of £15million on infrastructure
and services alone, clearly demonstrating the aspirations of national and local government towards the area’s vibrant food sector.
The whole of the region enjoys Objective One status within the European Union
so that investment projects in the county are eligible for the highest financial assistance currently available in the EU. With the prospect of additional convergence funding, the public sector support for business is well catered for. But the real value for businesses goes much further than that.
Financial Incentives.
Working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, the efforts of both council members and staff are focussed on providing an efficient, co-ordinated support network. Opportunities for development or relocation to the Cross Hands Food Park are significantly enhanced by highly favourable financial incentives including:
Regional Selective Assistance and Assembly Investment Grants.
Carmarthenshire and Swansea Bay is a Tier One area which attracts the upper level of support for Regional Selective Assistance and the Assembly Investment Grants. These can be paid as capital grants or as a jobs grant for projects needing large-scale investment. A 47% grant is available for SMEs, 35% for non-SMEs enabling projects to happen.
Processing and Marketing Grant.
This grant utilises a combination of EC and Welsh Assembly Government funding to help processors and farmers in Wales to add more value to their produce. The Welsh Assembly Government administers the scheme. In Carmarthenshire it provides significant funding towards new production and marketing processes.
Account management function.
It’s more than just money and grants; more even than having the right location. Business support and encouragement makes the real difference. Carmarthenshire County Council provides an account management function – typified by a can-do attitude to be a winner in any market.
As part of any business looking to expand into the Cross Hands food Park
you will be allocated an Account Manager to steer you through the whole process.
A recognised manager with appropriate skills in handling both expansions and relocations will be available to you free of charge. They Account Manager is
known to handle anything and everything and will soon become very much
part of your team.
The service will continue once you have settled in, opening up additional incentives and new features to your business in the Swansea Bay area and naturally on the Cross Hands Food Park. They will co-ordinate the full range of assistance for recruitment, training and development of staff.
Support Services
Minton, Treharne and Davies Ltd
Herbert J Evans - Public Analysts, a division of Minton, Treharne & Davies Ltd
is located on the adjacent Cross Hands Business Park and offers a comprehensive range of analytical and advisory services covering food, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, protection of public health and the environment. The Division
is an EU accredited Food Laboratory and the Divisional Directors hold official appointments as Public and Agricultural Analysts for a number of Welsh Counties. Their UKAS (NAMAS) Accredited Public Analysts laboratories operate independently of any external organisation or Governmental Body.
www.minton.co.uk/h_J_Evans.htm
Food Centre Wales
Whether developing new products, going into manufacturing for the first time
or looking for specialist training and advice, this purpose-built food technology centre at Horeb near Llandysul and its team of knowledgeable and innovative
staff can provide the answers.
Food Centre Wales helps producers through the process by turning a food product idea into reality by:
- Product development
- Product assessment
- Factory design and equipment sourcing
- Process development and manufacturing
- Quality management systems and auditing
- Training courses
www.foodcentrewales.org.uk
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