Member Article

Food and drink business support service seeking new recruits

A food and drink business support service, which has helped create 205 new jobs and supported organisations to increase sales by £34m, is embarking on a recruitment drive.

Menter a Busnes’ food and drink department, Cywain, which works primarily with start-up and micro businesses, is seeking new starters to increase the team to 20.

Cywain’s success, which has also seen it help companies launch a total of 864 new products or enter new markets, as well as safeguarded 212 jobs since January 2015, has positioned itself as a leader in its field in Wales.

It provides fully-funded support ranging from developing an idea or concept to facilitating access into new markets.

The businesses who receive advice and guidance range from farms to food manufacturers and have experienced increases in their turnover of at least £10,000, with some achieving growth of more than £50,000.

Elen Williams, one of Menter a Busnes’ directors, said: “We expect a significant increase in the number of businesses we support, which is why we have been recruiting and are seeking additional applicants.

“The roles include cluster executives and managers, development managers, and a marketing officer.

“Part of our success has been the facilitating of cluster networks, which aims to build a collaborative culture among multiple businesses enabling faster growth, job creation, and increased innovation.

“Cywain is at an exciting stage as we seek to strengthen the team for the future. The roles are varied and offer successful candidates a hands on opportunity to help grow the Welsh food and drink sector.”

Cardiff-based scotch egg producer, Great Eggspectations, produces four varieties of the snack: traditional, honey and smoked bacon, vegetarian, and Welsh rarebit and benefited from Cywain’s support.

Its products are fast becoming a snack-time favourite in pubs, bakeries, and local delis around Wales’ capital. They are also stocked at Cardiff Blues’ home games.

Founder Kevin Patrick devised the idea for alternative flavours when he attempted to get his father to rediscover his appetite during a prolonged period of illness.

Kevin said: “The support I have received from Cywain has been instrumental to both the formation and development of my business.

“I met my business mentor with just an idea and thanks to their knowledge and guidance I am now the owner of my own micro business.

“All the ingredients are locally sourced and Welsh. The eggs, herbs and spices come from fellow market traders, the meat comes from a butcher in Cardiff, and the breadcrumbs are made from unsold bread from bakeries in that Great Eggspectations supplies.”

In the last year, a total of 137 businesses have engaged Cywain, with 35 of them deep into the process.

For more information on Cywain and the roles available, visit http://www.menterabusnes.co.uk/en/cywain.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .