First 1 million RDPE Investment Boosts Region’s Potato Supply Chain
Yorkshire Forward has approved its first 1million RDPE investment in a potato marketing company, supporting Yorkshire and Humbers potato growers by establishing supply chains with British supermarkets.
York based Cockerills, which already supplies potatoes from growers in the region to two discount retailers, will be expanding its packhouse operation which washes grades and packs potatoes. The investment will double its capacity over a five year period and it is anticipated that 85 per cent of the extra potato tonnage will be sourced from our regions growers.
RDPE, which stands for Rural Development Programme for England, has 63m to invest in rural businesses over a six year period through a number of programmes. Cockerills accessed their grant through the Rural Enterprise Investment Programme which offers grants starting from 25,000 and is available to rural businesses wanting to grow and become more productive.
In addition to the 1million RDPE grant, Cockerills is investing over 2million in expanding and developing their business. The funding will be used to build an extension on the potato packing facility at the companys site at Dunnington near York. New equipment and machinery installed will result in automated, high speed efficient packing with a dedicated development kitchen so that cooking quality can be assessed.
Over the next five years it has been predicted that the investment will increase Cockerills turnover through their packhouse by 80 per cent and 33 new jobs will be created growing the 86 strong workforce to 119 full time equivalent posts. New and existing staff will also directly benefit from the investment with a new canteen, restroom and toilets.
Martin Cockerill, Managing Director at Cockerills commented; I am delighted that Cockerills will receive the additional funding needed through RDPE. We can now move forwards developing and expanding the company through improving the efficiency and doubling the capacity of our packhouse operation. Without the RDPE funding we wouldnt have been able to fulfil our growth ambition and we would have had to scale down our plans.
Andy Tordoff, Assistant Director of Environment at Yorkshire Forward commented;
Its great news that Yorkshire Forwards first 1million RDPE investment is supporting Yorkshire and Humbers growers, helping ensure more of our regions produce get into British supermarkets.
The Rural Enterprise Investment Programme can be accessed by businesses like Cockerills that process and add value to agricultural produce, also farm diversification businesses, tourism, forestry businesses and other rural micro businesses. RDPE is a flexible package that can be accessed by many rural businesses; we are working hard with our partners to ensure Yorkshire and Humbers rural businesses take advantage of it.
RDPE is managed by Yorkshire Forward and is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union. For further information on the different RDPE programmes please visit; www.yorkshire-forward.com/rdpe