Food industry business growth programmes

The food and drink business growth programme is for any Ealing based businesses producing food or drink products (including dark kitchens) that have been trading more than two years.

The council, in partnership with Jane Milton, has a separate programme for hospitality businesses – cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, takeaway and street food businesses. Please see the other column on this page for the details and how to apply.

Stage one

• One-to-one bespoke online discussion with industry expert Jane Milton about your business.
• Focussed, tailored look at where you are now and where you want to be in three years.
• Identify and address your obstacles with advice and connections you can action immediately.

12 businesses will be selected to participate in stage two, where they can receive more in-depth help.
The selection will be made with consideration to several factors including:

• How businesses have been affected by the pandemic and Brexit
• Food categories, creating a diverse mix of businesses
• Supply models
• The impact we think the programme can have on each business

Stage two

• 20-minute test highlighting your key strengths and the drivers that shape your thoughts and actions. We will ask you to share your results with us together with a little bit about what you learned about yourself from the test.
• Four 2.5-hour workshops to help in shaping your business growth strategy and learn to you use your own time effectively. We will share best practice on finding and retaining staff and help you with business planning so you can optimise your Return on Investment (ROI). Ensuring you have all your key business figures to track and grow your business. We will also consider diversity in your team and cultural sensitivity in food. You will learn how to use search engine optimisation (SEO) and content planning for social media and to assist you in marketing your business.
• A final one-to-one online session to discuss your completed business growth strategy and ensure you have all you need to move forward successfully.

Considering the changes that many businesses had to adapt to in the last few years, you have the opportunity to draw a line, move forward and work on what you want your businesses to be.

Ealing Council is committed to supporting businesses in the borough to grow, offer good jobs, support equality and improve sustainability. The council has partnered with Jane Milton to help 25 food and drink businesses in Ealing create a clear business strategy, refocus on what they want to achieve, identify immediate and future opportunities. There is no charge for businesses participating in this.

We understand all businesses are tightly resourced so we value your time and want you to get a strong return.

Much of this programme is delivered live online, so you can be straight back to your business after it.

It is key too, that you put everything you learn into practice each week, so you start to benefit immediately. At the end of the programme you will have created and implemented your own business growth strategy.

It only takes five minutes to apply but could really change your business for the next three years