Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to support the food and beverage sector in the West Midlands.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DBT offers extensive support for food and drink businesses in the West Midlands and across the UK. This includes educational programmes via the Export Academy, one-to-one advice from International Trade Advisors, and participation in global trade shows and missions. UK Export Finance provides financial assistance, with dedicated managers in the Midlands. Businesses can access support through the Business Support Service, Gov.UK, local Growth Hubs, Help to Grow Schemes, and the Small Business Council. This package reaffirms government’s commitment to making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, particularly in the food and beverage sector.