The THRIVE programme, now in its fourth year, has been developed by experts from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Queen Margaret University (QMU) with the aim of empowering food and drink entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge for business growth. This programme is designed to target students, graduates, and early-stage entrepreneurs, providing essential insight into concept development, legislation, marketing, and manufacturing.
Ceri Ritchie, Principal Consultant at SAC Consulting, has emphasized the importance of THRIVE in creating resilient start-up food & drink businesses. According to Ritchie, the programme aims to equip entrepreneurs with the awareness and skills required for sustainable business growth. This includes having adaptable strategies and a long-term view of the value they bring to customers.
THRIVE welcomes individuals in food & drink manufacturing, hospitality, diversified agriculture, or food and farm shops who aspire to become entrepreneurs. Applications for the programme, which runs from August to November, are now open via Eventbrite.
Last year’s THRIVE edition attracted 53 participants from various locations, all of whom found tremendous success through the programme. One such participant, Katy Matsetse of The Wee Ginger Company, was able to kick start her business after taking part in THRIVE. She praised the programme for being well-organized, educational, and useful, as well as for providing valuable networking opportunities.
The THRIVE programme consists of two interactive sessions and six industry-focused webinars. The sessions cover topics such as business skills, food product development, investment and funding opportunities, sustainability, packaging solutions, and legislation for food manufacturing and foodservice in Scotland.
Catriona Liddle, Head of Scottish Centre for Food Development & Innovation at QMU, highlighted the importance of THRIVE in providing specialized support for food and drink start-ups. She also emphasized the opportunity for delegates to build a supportive community and learn from each other as they progress on their entrepreneurial journeys.
The programme promises to provide “real world” help from experts and offers a chance for like-minded individuals to come together to support and learn from each other. It has continually expanded its scope to assist more enterprising start-ups on the road to success in the food and drink industry.
With applications now open for this year’s THRIVE programme, budding entrepreneurs in the food and drink sector are encouraged to take advantage of this invaluable opportunity to gain the skills and insight needed for business success. Whether you are a student with a food business idea, a graduate starting up a business, or an entrepreneur looking to take your enterprise to the next level, the THRIVE programme could be the key to your success.