As part of an effective collaboration to drive enterprise and productivity in the UK Food Valley and surrounding areas, the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone (SLFEZ) is partnered with the University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) and its Centre of Excellence (CoE).
This dynamic partnership is helping food and drink businesses in Lincolnshire thrive by offering cutting-edge research, business support, professional development opportunities and access to industry-leading facilities.
Located at the SL FEZ, the Centre of Excellence is a hub for innovation and growth within the food and drink sector. With state-of-the-art New Product Development (NPD) technologies, the CoE is driving groundbreaking research and providing practical support to businesses of all sizes, from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations.
Offering a Full-Scale Solution for Food Businesses
The Centre is more than just a research facility—it’s a place where businesses can access a wide range of resources and benefit from mutual knowledge exchange. Whether you’re a startup or an established enterprise, the CoE provides everything from collaborative office spaces and meeting rooms to specialised product development labs and food tasting rooms. This is all supported by experienced industry experts conducting research and supporting the studies of hundreds of food and drink sector apprentices annually.
The Centre’s industry-led academics seek to ensure food and drink organisations have the tools and knowledge to stay competitive in an ever-evolving market.
Flexible Learning and Professional Development
In today’s fast-paced food and drink industry, staying ahead of the curve is essential. That’s why the University of Lincoln’s experts in food manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain operations have created flexible educational programmes, available both online and in-person at the CoE. These programmes are designed to upskill your workforce and keep your business on the cutting edge.
Courses range from apprenticeships and short courses to specialised skills bootcamps.
Skills Bootcamps in particular are partially funded by Government funding, facilitated by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, making them an affordable way to invest in your team’s development. NCFM is currently recruiting for its January 2024 cohorts, offering skills bootcamps in areas crucial to the food and drink sector. The list of programmes and start dates can be found on NCFM’s short courses webpage.
To register your interest, simply email ncfm@lincoln.ac.uk or visit NCFM Short Courses.