Investing for growth
After the tour, The Queen will unveil a plaque to mark the occasion and she will be presented with a Laird's Larder hamper containing Cumbrian food and drink from almost 20 local producers spread across the county.
CREA Chief Executive, Bob Clark has been involved in the Food Technology Centre project from the start: “This is a major investment into our thriving food and drink sector and we are delighted that the royal party is including a visit in their busy programme,” he said. “The Food Technology Centre is an important investment that will give growing businesses the opportunity to expand into new facilities, to share costs with others and to make the most of a prime location for distribution across Cumbria and beyond.”
The Centre is a novel project designed to give access to all as producers will not have to make an investment in premises, but can hire facilities such as kitchens or storage areas as and when they are needed, for as little as just one day.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “ Cumbria is renowned for its excellent food and drink and development of this sector is important in order to drive forward the regional economy. The Food Technology Centre is a unique facility which will give producers the opportunity to start or expand their businesses and carry on creating wonderful produce.”
“The Agency is delighted to support a facility which will complement our objectives to support businesses and create jobs in the region and the Queen's visit emphasises the importance of the development.”
Reducing the impact
The Food Technology Centre sits alongside CREA's Business Incubation and Conference Centre, renowned for its use of the latest environmental technology. The Food Technology Centre will have solar panelling for water heating, a ground source heat pump for air heating and facilities for grey water recycling. Bore holes have been drilled down to about 100 metres on the site to accommodate the ground source heat extraction and the grey water recycling includes catchment of rain water that is then used in the sanitation systems.
With the benefit of high specification insulation, the Food Technology Centre should minimise its energy use as well as providing a hub for local food distribution that minimises food miles and transport costs. |
