Ursula Lidbetter MBE will represent all LEPs on the Food and Drink Sector Council.

We are very pleased to report that our Chair, Ursula Lidbetter MBE, has been appointed to DEFRA’s Food and Drink Sector Council to represent all LEPs.  This new council, set up to help the Government understand the needs of the food chain, will also be focusing on a number of working groups. The first three working groups are focused on workforce supply, nutrition and agricultural productivity, and we will be making nominations to these groups from LEPs across the country.

Given Ursula’s new role we are also working closely with DEFRA to help shape the way in which the national and Local Industrial Strategies can champion growth of the food chain.

To deliver the Industrial Strategy in the food and drink sector, council members are also working with government to develop sector deals which align Government investment in the food chain with investment by industry. We are very actively involved in the sector deal process both for the food sector and through work to promote food chain needs in enabling sectors such as robotics and automation.