At yesterday’s Do Business Network meeting, we were joined by Steve Wheaton and Ian Pilkington from Food & Drink North East (FADNE). They introduced an exceptional funding and support package designed specifically to help local businesses thrive over the next three years: the Rural Growth Programme, Food & Drink Business Support.
Supported by the North East Combined Authority and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, this fully-funded programme is built to strengthen, connect, and scale the entire food, drink, and hospitality ecosystem across our region.
Who Is This Programme For?
The initiative isn't just for one specific type of business. It has been created to support the entire "farm to fork" supply chain across the North East.
Whether you are a startup just finding your feet, an established business looking to grow, or a mature company ready to scale, there is tailored support available for you. Eligible sectors include:
Primary Producers: Farms, growers, and raw ingredient suppliers.
Manufacturers & Processors: From kitchen-table creators to large-scale production facilities.
Hospitality & Retail: Cafes, restaurants, pubs, hotels, and independent food retailers.
Tailored Support to Suit Your Business
The brilliance of the FADNE Rural Growth Programme is its flexibility. Once your business is registered, you can mix and match the elements of support that best suit your current challenges and goals:
Sector-Specific Workshops: Interactive sessions covering vital operational areas, including market trends, pricing strategies, branding, supply chain logistics, food safety compliance, and net-zero sustainability.
1-2-1 Business Consultancy: Bespoke, sector-specific advice tailored directly to your individual business needs.
Growth Labs: Intensive, specialist-led sessions delivered within small, carefully curated peer groups.
Targeted Growth Programmes: Dedicated incubation tracks such as Beyond the Kitchen Table (getting small producers retail-ready), Comply to Supply (scaling medium manufacturing), and The Pressure Cooker (boosting hospitality growth and sustainability).
How to Get Involved
If you want to access this expert support to help plan, protect, or grow your business, taking the first step is straightforward.
Register Your Interest: Visit the FADNE Rural Growth Programme page (https://www.fadne.org/rural-growth-programme/) and fill out a quick Expression of Interest (EoI) form. This gives the team some initial context about your setup so they can bring tailored options to your introductory discussion call.
Join the Network: If you aren't ready for direct support just yet but want to stay informed about regional industry updates and future events, you can sign up on the FADNE Community page (https://www.fadne.org/join-our-community/).
To review the full range of workshops and business support programmes, you can download the presentation slides below.
