Beyond the Kitchen Table (BTKT) is a fully-funded programme of learning, coaching and support, designed by Food and Drink North East, to help ambitious artisans and SMEs prepare for growth into B2B channels such as retail, wholesale, hospitality and foodservice.
Perfect for busy business owners who wish to grow, the BTKT programme features 12 short online learning modules delivered by experts and business owners that participants can study at a self-guided pace, and covers subjects such as accreditation, packaging, finance, retail space, and foodservice requirements.
Each module takes between 15-30 minutes to complete.
As well as the online learning element of the programme, participants will also have opportunities to connect with their cohort and practice their pitches at touch points throughout the programme, as well as putting their new skills to the test at a live Producer Pitch session in March 2025, and at a Meet The Buyer event at the FD&H LIVE expo in April 2025.
Philip Lauder, founder of The Donut Lab, took part in the Beyond The Kitchen Table programme in 2023, and said, “I would highly recommend the Beyond the Kitchen Table programme for any small or micro food and drink business that is looking to expand into the retail and foodservice sectors.
“The programme is well-structured and provides a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know to get your business ready for retail, from developing your story and honing your pitch to meeting the needs of potential buyers. The one-to-one mentoring is also invaluable and provides you with tailored support to help you achieve your business goals.”
Important Information:
Limited spaces for food and drink businesses are available, and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The programme is fully funded for 10 Sunderland-based food and drink businesses.
Please complete this form to register your expression of interest, and a member of the FADNE team will be in touch to confirm eligibility and provide further details.
This Beyond the Kitchen Table project for Sunderland businesses is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UKSPF Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Programme, led by the University of Sunderland, offers £2.56m worth of training to upskill, develop and grow Sunderland-based businesses and organisations.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
