Funding for Scotland’s food industry
Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing has announced that Scottish food and drink companies will benefit from more than £4.6 million of funding from the latest round of food processing, manufacturing and co-operation grants.
The grants will enable 15 projects to take their businesses to the next level by supporting new products and extending existing lines, or building new facilities – safeguarding 820 and creating 90 new jobs.
Speaking ahead of AgriScot 2017, Ewing says, “This investment of more than £4.6m will benefit famers, meat packers and bakers across Scotland and further demonstrates my continuing commitment to supporting and growing that contribution.
“Not only will this funding help to create 90 new jobs, it will help safeguard 820 posts in our rural economy and help our food and drink companies expand their businesses and the products they offer.”
This round of funding will see Dumfries and Galloway based meat processing company, Brown Brothers Manufacturing, extend their premises and purchase new equipment to make them more competitive, safeguarding 567 full time posts and creating 50 new jobs.
Alan Hill, managing director at Brown Brothers, says, “Working in partnership with local and national government will enable an already successful business like Brown Brothers to grow quicker and create further economic development within Dumfries and Galloway and Scotland.
“With the support of food processing, manufacturing and co-operation grants funding and enabling work by Dumfries and Galloway Council, we will construct a new energy efficient extension to our meat processing facility and install state of the art production equipment.
“This will allow us to efficiently increase our throughput capacity and offer a ‘one stop shop’ for our customers in fresh, chilled and frozen cooked meats. This will provide long term job security and job creation.”
