University and local food and drink businesses to visit House of Commons

Our University and ten local food and drinks companies will be accompanying the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) to the House of Commons on Wednesday 12 October to demonstrate innovation and diversity of food and drink manufacturing in Leicestershire.

The day at the House of Commons will start with an exhibition, entitled 'The Global Flavours of Leicestershire'. This will be followed in the afternoon by a debate with MPs, businesses and the education sector about the skills and resources challenges faced by the sector.

As well as sampling traditional locally-produced products such as Long Clawson cheese and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, the LLEP hopes that Ministers and MPs will be inspired by the extensive innovation and diversity of food and drink manufacturing in Leicestershire.

Nick Pulley, Chair of the LLEP, said: “Nationally, Food and Drink is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, with an annual turnover of £95.4bn. The sector is of vital strategic importance to the UK economy and is one of the largest sectors for employment, particularly in the low-skilled or unskilled areas.

“Across Leicester and Leicestershire there are some 200 Food & Drink companies, employing for around 12,000 jobs. The sector contributes around £600m to our local economy each year.

“All the businesses coming to London have an interesting story to tell, whether this is a unique innovation in their manufacturing processes or products, how they have managed get their products - particularly ethnic-based food and drink into major supermarket chains or exporting successes."

Among the businesses attending will be Just Egg, a company that supplies hard boiled eggs and egg mayonnaise and has worked with the University of Leicester to develop an innovative way to re-use waste egg shells in packaging. Scientists at our University have also found that the proteins in egg shells can be helpful in the pharmaceutical industry. These waste egg shells would ordinarily have been sent to landfill sites, costing thousands of pounds each year.

The LLEP is a strategic body established to drive forward regeneration and growth of the local economy. The LLEP works with partners and Government to set out key investment priorities for Leicester & Leicestershire. It also invests funding and aligns partner resources and through its investments and it influences and drives activities that ensure positive outcomes for the local economy.

• Working with industry translates the University of Leicester’s research into the business innovations that shape our world. Leicester seeks to tackle global challenges, transform lives and address real life problems by effectively working with businesses to develop successful partnerships and apply knowledge with impact.
• For more information visit the website
• LLEP press release