SCHOOLS are showing their support for patriotic producers and using more locally sourced ingredients for their St David’s Day dinner menus.

Specially prepared items for today’s (Friday) lunchtime celebrations at a select number of primary and secondary schools will incorporate food and drink manufactured and distributed right on their doorstep, where possible.

As part of Larder Cymru’s Welsh Food for Schools pilot scheme – delivered by Menter Mon – the local authorities of Wrexham, Flintshire, Anglesey, Gwynedd, Cardiff, and Caerphilly have pledged to review their current offering and do more to utilise Welsh produce.

Marcia Lewis, Principal Officer for Caerphilly’s catering service, is fully behind the initiative.

“St David’s Day is a special celebration for all schools in Caerphilly,” she said.

“This year we are celebrating the event by using Welsh produce from local manufacturers, which will appeal to our pupils across the borough.

“Our strategy is to enable pupils to have greater access to nutritious, high-quality local foods, enhanced learning about food, agriculture, and healthy lifestyles whilst increasing the use of Welsh produce on our menus.”

Among the Welsh and locally produced delights being served up in Caerphilly are lamb leek and mint sausage, potatoes and other vegetables, wholemeal bread, yoghurt, ice cream, fruit bars, and still water.

Supported by the Welsh Government’s Backing Local Firms Fund, the overall aim of Welsh Food for Schools is to increase the volume and range of Welsh produce purchased and used by education catering departments in their counties going forward.

Larder Cymru’s Food Lead David Wylie is delighted with the commitment of the schools and councils and hopes it will have a significant impact on the food and drink economy in North Wales.

“We are working in collaboration not only to give these sectors more support at a crucial time for them, but also to focus on health and wellbeing of young people, sustainability and the environment,” said David.

“And what better time than on St David’s Day to shine a light on these issues and champion the incredible producers we have across Wales, particularly here in the north where this project is gaining real momentum.

“We thank everyone for their support – Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!”

For more information, visit the website www.lardercymru.wales or email david@mentermon.com. Alternatively, follow @mentermon on social media.

A TRANSFORMATIVE enterprise hub outperforming its peers “by some margin” will enter its sixth year with a raft of new services for start-ups and entrepreneurs.

The pioneering Menter Môn Enterprise Hub (Hwb Menter), based with project partners M-SParc in Gaerwen and at Hwb Arloesi, Porthmadog, has unveiled a series of benefits and incentives in addition to its co-working spaces and popular Miwtini start-up programme.

Businesses in Gwynedd and Anglesey can apply for a £2,500 ‘support package’ that includes access to guidance and free information, financial backing and more.

A recent Welsh Government evaluation revealed the north west Wales Enterprise Hub team, managed by Sara Lois Roberts, was “outperforming by some margin” other hubs in Wales, and “has been able to reach a new and different audience”.

Sara is “proud and excited” they can move forward and offer even more to people across the region.

“We have a fantastic team within the Enterprise Hub who have worked tirelessly to help people over the last five years, so for that to be recognised by Welsh Government was heartening,” she said.

“Our services will continue, with a focus on start-ups and entrepreneurs in Gwynedd and Anglesey, and the new support package shows we are even more determined to give those looking to start their own business the help they need to succeed.”

The Enterprise Hub has done just that for more than 180 new enterprises since 2018 – there was no slowing down for the Coronavirus pandemic – demonstrating how pivotal the need was for an in-person, accessible platform aligned to the “local business ecosystem”.

Opening a hub in Porthmadog reinforced the need for a service in that area, and it has proven popular with solo workers in particular, offering remote, hot desk spaces, events, and networking.

This location joins a network of other hubs, including MSParc’s #OnTour locations in Pwllheli and Bangor.

Pryderi ap Rhisiart, M-SParc Managing Director said: “The Enterprise Hub has been a fantastic example of how M-SParc and Menter Môn collaborate on projects which lead to positive results across a variety of industries and sectors in North Wales, and perfectly fits our remit of business growth in the area, job creation, and making North Wales an attractive place to work.”

Having now received £568,184 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Cyngor Gwynedd / Anglesey County Council and £150,000 from Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sara is delighted the Enterprise Hub can continue to give those who need it a commercial kickstart.

NRS’s Director of External Affairs, Bill Hamilton said: “We at NRS are happy to support schemes such as the Enterprise Hub through Menter Môn, which aims to support local communities as well as bring socio economic benefits. Menter Mon has played a pivotal role in enabling NRS to support growth here in North Wales and we look forward to seeing them continue to deliver on their projects.”

Sara added: “Our core services will remain and have gone from strength to strength.

“But the new support package will be a game changer for start-ups in the two counties, especially the £2,500 financial assistance which can be used for important long-term benefits, whether that be memberships, software, subscriptions to accounting packages, or using professionals such as accountants, graphic designers, or web developers.

“However, it’s much more than just a financial incentive, the overall wraparound scheme will give start-ups and anyone looking to launch a business all the support they need, including tips and advice from our database of experts in a wide range of fields.

“We have already had a very positive response and would like to thank everyone who has engaged with the Enterprise Hub – for more information on how we can help you please get in touch.”

For more on how the Enterprise Hub can help you start-up in business, email post@hwbmenter.cymru or call 01248 858 070.

Alternatively, visit www.hwbmenter.cymru or follow @hwbmenter on social media. 

FOOD and drink companies in Wales can access free one-to-one support to capitalise on major procurement opportunities in the public sector.

As part of its innovative Larder Cymru project, Menter Môn is targeting up to 50 producers and processors from across the country and rolling out mentoring and guidance sessions for successful applicants.

Funded by Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the scheme is focused on coordinating and strengthening relations within local supply chains to position regionally produced food and drink as a compelling proposal for large contracts nationwide.

Larder Cymru Project Manager Dafydd Jones said: “To complement this, interested parties can get in touch with us for one-to-one sessions where we can offer guidance and support on a range of issues, from procurement to marketing, supply chains and monitoring social value.

“These sessions will be crucial as we move forward as we will be able to explore how public sector opportunities benefit their organisation, gauge how much experience and expertise they have and establish key next steps, including an action plan, training and milestones.”

He added: “We are working with public sector purchasers, procurement officers and catering managers in a range of different organisations to understand their supply chain requirements and how we can bridge the gap for independent suppliers.

“We are also in discussions with wholesalers and looking at how small businesses can join forces to be included in tenders for bigger opportunities that would previously have been unavailable to them.

“The project’s overall aim is to strengthen support within the local supply chain to position locally produced food and drink so that it is a compelling proposal for large supply contracts.

“The project also looks at lowering the sector’s carbon footprint, increasing profitability for independent businesses in Wales and working towards a more supportive and sustainable arena for producers and the public sector.”

Menter Môn will continue to deliver community-driven, innovative projects that have a direct impact on communities in Wales, according to Dafydd.

“This is an example of an initiative that will have a huge effect on small businesses and independent suppliers in Wales while at the same time making a big impact nationally,” he said.

“By developing shorter supply chains, it will provide the opportunity for food producers and suppliers to go for bigger contracts, the produce will travel a shorter distance – providing environmental and financial benefits, notably given fuel price hikes – and this will in turn have a knock-on effect for employment and local industry.

“We add value by working with businesses, trainers and accreditors and referring the suppliers to the right people at the right time, ensuring communication channels are seamless and progress is made.

“If their products and services complement each other we can give them the best platform to secure contracts that will make a positive difference to local economies, the environment and communities across Wales for years to come.”

Larder Cymru attended the LACA – The School Food People Public Sector Catering expo held during the summer, where they were joined by leading food companies Henllan Bakery, Llaeth y Llan, Harlech Foodservice and Plas Farm, showcasing their produce to food buyers within the public sector ahead of further events later this year.

For more information, visit www.lardercymru.wales or email dafydd.jones@mentermon.com . Alternatively, follow @mentermon on social media.