Start your own food business – FREE workshops

Calling all makers (or aspiring makers) of all things edible. Lambeth Employment and Enterprise Unit have set up a number of workshops. These will provide an opportunity to learn a few tips from established local food businesses, market traders, food safety advisers and business advisers to get you up and running.

You’ll get the chance to let local experts and producers taste your wares and give you advice on quality, branding and presentation. Then you can use your new-found skills to sell for real at a market – There will be special concessions at local markets.

Workshop one: Thinking food
Wednesday, 21st November 2012, 6 to 8pm at Park Hall Industrial Estate, Martell Road, SE2

Meet existing businesses and food enterprises who will be able to help you work out any local supply gaps, providing you with valuable market information. Local food business owners will include:

  • Rococco Chocolates
  • Beamish and McGlue
  • Volcano Coffee
  • Brixton Village Food Owners

Workshop two: Practical steps
Sunday 2nd December, 10am to 1pm (including lunch) at Beamish & McGlue, 461 Norwood Road, London, SE27 9DQ

See it all in action by taking a tour of West Norwood Town Centre and West Norwood Feast, meet businesses and market organisers, and get some tips from Lambeth food safety advisers.

Hear from Lambeth food safety advisers about the food safety requirements and support available in starting up your own food business. The presentation will be followed by a walkabout of West Norwood town centre, where you can meet local businesses that are sourcing or thinking of sourcing locally, and local market organisers to find out where you could open a pop-up or have a market stall.

Workshop three: Tasting and testing
February 2013 at the Portico Gallery

This session is a “dry run”, where you can bring along samples of your wares for people to taste and give you feedback. As well as your fellow producers, we’ll have local experts from restaurants, cafes, markets and shops to give you advice on quality, price, presentation and marketing. If you’re  looking to start your own food enterprise, this is an unmissable opportunity to get free professional feedback and build your confidence before going public.

Making it Real: Sell at real markets

Finally, put all you’ve learnt into action at a real local market.  Lambeth negotiating a number of stalls at Brixton Market, Lower Marsh Market, Waterloo (produce and chilled food only) and West Norwood Feast. Lambeth Employment and Enterprise Unit will set up some stalls where you can sell your wares to real buyers – your first step on your journey to setting up your own food business!

To apply: Please register for a place by forwarding your details to: Philip James, Employment and Enterprise Unit, London Borough of Lambeth, 2nd Floor, Phoenix House, SW8 pjames2@lambeth.gov.uk They will confirm ASAP whether you have been successful in securing a place.

Leave a comment

Filed under Education, Employment, Jobs, Lambeth Council, Local Business, West Norwood

Leave a Reply