Application pack for CREATE: Start Your Own Food Business
Are you in the early stages of creating a food enterprise and looking for some
expert advice?
Do you have a great business idea but need some help to get it off the ground?
The Lambeth Food Partnership is here to help, with our new start-up programme
– CREATE.
We know that starting a new business can be a daunting task; it requires a lot of
hard work and resilience, and it can feel like a constant uphill struggle. But it can
also be hugely rewarding.
As the Lambeth Food Partnership, we want to build a healthier and more
sustainable food system in the borough. We believe local food businesses are an
essential part of this.
Working closely with Lambeth’s Enterprise team, we’ve designed CREATE to give
start-ups the opportunity to receive expert advice, gain valuable experience,
network, and find out what it takes to create a thriving food enterprise.
We know that by building a strong network and learning from those with relevant
expertise, start-ups can greatly increase their chances of survival and success.
And that’s what we want to see!
Who’s the programme for?
The programme is for budding entrepreneurs in the early stages of developing a
food business. This encompasses a range of businesses including (but not limited
to):
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Pre-made products to be sold at markets and retail outlets;
Freshly made hot food to be sold at events and markets;
Food retailers including delis, cafes and restaurants;
Catering companies;
A combination of the above.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. It is not essential that
you have business experience, but we do want people who have passion, drive, a
willingness to learn and grow, resilience and a desire to succeed. We’re also
looking for people who will work well as part of a group, share skills and help to
build a strong local network of food businesses.
The programme is for Lambeth residents only.
What do we expect from you?
The programme is funded by the council’s Cooperative Investment Fund and is
being offered to participants free of charge. In return, we expect participants to
be fully committed to the programme, to attend all of the sessions (unless by
prior agreement), and to contribute to the evaluation process both throughout
the programme and at intervals over the following 2-3 years.
We would also like participants to give something back to the programme /
Lambeth Food Partnership / wider community at some point in the future. This
may take many forms including: speaking at future events; mentoring a new
business; helping us to source free/low-cost venues and refreshments;
volunteering at a local foodbank; offering work experience to students / people
on working age benefits; etc.
Programme information:
The programme runs over seven sessions between September and November
2015 on evenings and weekends with one mid-week early morning session
(further details below). We are in the final stages of confirming the dates and
timings but we’ve included provisional dates below as a guide.
In addition to the core programme, participants will have the chance to gain food
hygiene certificates at a discounted rate.
Where possible, participants will also have the opportunity to test-run products
at one of the local markets.
Beyond the programme, participants will be invited to twice-yearly LFP
networking events.
Programme outline:
Event 1: Be Inspired / Scale of the Opportunity
 Hear from several established local food businesses about their start-up
journey.
 Find out about the opportunities available to food businesses at the
Southbank Centre and the new Vauxhall development.
Date/time: Thursday 10th September, 6.30pm-9pm
Venue: Waterloo
Event 2: Making It Real
 Hear from expert advisors on compliance, business regulations, business
planning, food safety, sales & marketing.
Date/time: Saturday 19th September, 9.30am-12.30pm
Venue: Waterloo
Event 3: Making It Fly
 Hear from expert advisors on Sales, Marketing and Social Media on
marketing your business for maximum sales.
Date/time: Thursday 24th September, 6.30pm-9.30pm
Venue: Waterloo Impact Hub ?
Event 4: Tasting & Testing
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Get critical feedback on food products and/or business ideas from a panel
of industry experts
Date/time: Saturday 3th / 10th October, 9.30am-12.30pm
Venue: The Lower Marsh Market
Event 5: Premises
 Go on a walking tour of retail and premises opportunities in Waterloo. This
will focus in and around Lower Marsh. Look at existing food businesses and
vacant opportunities. Hear from the Waterloo BID and a retail property
expert.
Date / time: Saturday 17th / 24th October, 9.30am-12.30pm
Venue: Lower Marsh Market / The Vault /
Event 6: Sustainability and your business
 Learn about how sustainability can affect your business, from sourcing to
food production and keeping it green. Good for the planet and good for
you!
Date / time: Thursday 29th November, 6:30pm-9pm
Venue:
Event 7: Sourcing ingredients
 Take an early morning tour of New Covent Garden Market to meet
wholesalers, look at bulk purchasing and explore related issues.
Date / time: Thursday 6th November, 6am-8am
Venue: New Covent Garden Market
Event 8: Preparing to launch
 Receive practical start-up information from experts on markets,
commercial kitchens, catering specialists and restaurants.
Date / time: Saturday 21nd November, 9.30am-12.30pm
Venue: To Be confirmed
Key dates:
Applications close: Midnight, Sunday 9th August
Selected applicants notified: by 5pm, Monday 17th August
2015 programme begins: 10th September
2015 programme finishes: 21nd November (TBC)
Application form:
(Max word count for each answer in brackets)
Contact Name
Contact Email
Contact Phone Number
Post Code
Website (if you have one)
Business Twitter (if you
have one)
What are you passionate
about? (50 words)
In one or two sentences,
what is your business
idea? (40 words)
Why do you want to work
in the food world? (100
words)
What have you done so
far to research and
develop your business
idea? (100 words)
What other support have
you received/are
receiving to develop your
business idea (50 words)
Why do you want to start
your own food business?
(75 words)
Do you blog, Instagram,
tweet or facebook about
food ? If yes, please
enclose links to your
social media sites?:
Have you ever cooked
professionally before,
taught cookery class,
worked in or set up any
food related business:
(75 word)
The Lambeth Food
Partnership exists to
cultivate a healthier and
more sustainable food
system in Lambeth. How
would your business
contribute towards this
aim? (75 words)
What is your favourite
existing food business
and why? (50 words)
If your business is
successful, how would
you plan to give back to
the Lambeth Food
Partnership and other
start-up businesses in
the borough? (75 words)
What do you hope to
achieve from the CREATE
programme? (75 words)
If you do not do CREATE,
what will you do to bring
your idea to life? (100
words)
How did you hear about
us?
Please return your completed application form to: [email protected] by
midnight on Sunday, 9th August, 2015.