Following on from two workshops held at Anglo American’s offices earlier this year to identify regional bioeconomy businesses, a pilot programme of business support has been launched to help 10 businesses to develop their products and processes with support from bioeconomy experts at BioVale and the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) at the University of York
The businesses met at Whitby on September 28th for a networking breakfast with the aim of exploring the challenges and opportunities they are facing and how they can be helped as well as ways they can support one another. Each business will receive two days of funded support plus a grant of £1500.
“We are pleased to be working with BioVale and the BDC with this pilot programme to support 10 local bioeconomy businesses. The bioeconomy was identified as an area with great potential for growth and is a key priority for us as part of our Social and Economic Development Plan,” said Matthew Parsons, General Manager External Affairs at Anglo American.
BioVale and the BDC have helped hundreds of businesses working in the bioeconomy to date, with a wide range of projects and the Head of BioVale, Alice North is delighted to be partnering with Anglo American to enable even more businesses to benefit from their assistance.
Alice said: “In order to combat climate change, we are all going to need to transition towards a bioeconomy, using renewable resources to make the things we need in our everyday lives.
“Having identified so many fantastic bioeconomy businesses working in the Scarborough District through our work with Anglo American to date, we are incredibly pleased to be partnering with them to further help these businesses and deliver ten bespoke projects that can make a real difference.”
The 10 businesses taking part in the pilot programme are:
Bayview Bees – a producer of raw Yorkshire honey as well as a provider of bee keeping courses and equipment.
Eartha Underwear – manufacturer and seller of underwear made from innovative and biodegradable materials.
Fortunes Kippers – seller of award winning traditionally smoked kippers for over 149 years.
Journey Blue – seller of products made from materials seen as waste sourced from the seas.
Nature’s Laboratory – developer of sustainable and effective natural medicines including plant medicines, bee medicines and skincare.
Raincliffe Wood Community Enterprise – a social enterprise that offers training, education and mentoring.
Whitby Brewery – local, craft brewery that also offers tours and hosts events throughout the year.
Whitby Distillery – offer unique tours to give visitors a chance to discover how they craft their award-winning spirits.
Whitby Sea Salt – is a family-run business using environmentally friendly methods of crafting sea salt.
Yoghurt Delights – make a ‘healthy alternative’ to ice cream that is low in calories and tastes delicious.
Anglo American is also working with the University of York on the wider BioYorkshire initiative, showing their commitment to local and regional growth in bioeconomy and reduction in carbon.
Once this pilot has been delivered, there is an ambition for Anglo American, BioVale and the BDC to continue working together to support more regional bioeconomy entrepreneurs and businesses in the longer term.
For further information, please contact:
Alice North, Head of BioVale
