Food version of ‘Silicon Valley’ in Holbeach is helping businesses to grow and flourish

We have heard a lot recently about building a European version of ‘Silicon Valley’ to kick start economic growth but south Lincolnshire is already home to a food science park - which is helping businesses to blossom.

The South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone, which is on the outskirts of Holbeach, aims to bring together agri-food companies and academics at the University of Lincoln to help boost the local economy.

Politicians have hailed the FEZ as a key to bringing about major changes to South Holland by giving people new skills and access to higher paid jobs - and investment in this science park is also highlighted as a major benefit of devolution.

Lincolnshire County Council, South Holland District Council and the University have worked together on the zone - which also includes offices and workshops to allow businesses connected with agri-food industry to thrive.

Among those businesses based at The Hub is Milly Barker who started-up agland.co.uk - the countryside version of Rightmove - after spotting a gap in the market.

“It’s a property portal and resources hub that is dedicated to helping people to discover agricultural land and rural properties across the uk whether to buy, sell, rent or lease,” she said

“The reason I set it up is that I am a property investor and when I was looking for land but it took hours and hours to go through. Information like land grading was hard enough in one place from reliable sources.

“I was looking for opportunities to invest in and these were either really hard to find as existing property portals were not fit for purpose.

The aim of the site, which has been launched recently, is also to provide details such as land grading along with insights on the land.

Another aim of the website is to help fund the purchase or lease of the land to help more people achieve their dreams.

Finance is a big barrier for a lot of young people who want to get into farming. Without significant personal backing or another business, finding the money to purchase or lease land is a major hurdle.

But this website aims to change that by helping to put people in contact with agricultural mortgages and business support.

It is also open to hearing of half-acres which would be up for lease - which would not be available on other sites as it is too small. The site has no minimum requirements.

Milly feels that being based at The Hub is a good thing for her website. She said: ““South Lincolnshire is known for its agriculture. To be surrounded by acres and acres of fields here. There are a number of businesses around Spalding so it is the best place to it to be located.

“It is better to be here in the county we want to serve and get as close to our users as possible.”

One of the exciting businesses based at The Hub is the first commercial scale insect farm - Fairman Knight and Sons.

Chief Executive Julian Knight said things were going well and is gearing up to opening up a larger site in the Holbeach area.

“It is going to be a big deal for the UK economy and we are going to produce up to 10,000 tonnes of sustainable animal protein and about 15,000 tonnes of sustainable fertiliser.

“This is a brilliant place to be connected with because you are close to the university so they can help with refinements of some of the products and technology.”

He said the firm was always going to be based in Lincolnshire due to the plentiful supply of food waste and the requirement for fertiliser.

Oterra UK Ltd - which creates food colourings using natural ingredients - is another firm which is based at The Hub.

The firm’s Sally McKenna said it was definitely going to help the business by having a location so close to the university.

She said: “The Hub is like a little community on its own. “

The Hub is also home to construction and mechanical companies which also play a vital role in the food industry.

Moving into The Hub was a helpful move for Lee Quince, who runs Quince Contracting Services.

Lee, who has a background in electrics for the food industry, provides mechanical and electrical installations for factories and the distribution industries.

He said of the site: “It is really good and very modern. I feel this ticks a lot of boxes for what I wanted.”

Mr Quince said that the connection with the university is starting to grow and likes being part of the hub.

“It’s a nice environment as a small business that people that have experience here, you are able to have a quick chat and they are very supportive.”

Matt Sparrow works for LFP construction - which is part of an international company which works in the food and beverage industry.

He said that a desire to be close to this area, which is home to a number of food manufacturers, resulted in the firm getting an office within The Hub.

Matt said: “The general connection to the local area give us a local base for the business to be able to see and understand that we are local for them as well as being part of a larger group.

“We hope that being here will help our business grow.”