The Norwich Food Science Supercluster

We hear from Mike Rigby, Chief Executive of Eastern Promise about how Norwich’s collection of assets across the food, agricultural and science sectors presents a unique opportunity for workers and businesses coming to the region.

What is Eastern Promise?

Eastern Promise showcases and champions the East of England, the wonderful things happening in our region and the amazing people making them happen.

Though we do feature many region-wide groups and initiatives, we also take each county, city, town and village on its own terms, respecting their distinct identity.

Critically, we focus on positivity, opportunity and potential, and we have a strict ‘no moan’ policy. With apologies to Lord Reith and the BBC, our mission is to inform, energise and, occasionally, entertain.

Our main tool is our podcast, imaginatively titled ‘Eastern Promise – The Podcast’ and its CrowdSourcery feature – where people share their favourite places, activities or amenities in our region on social media, and I then share their recommendations on the podcast, with some added bells and whistles – is proving incredibly popular.

Describe the food science scene in Norwich at the moment

First, let’s define what we mean by ‘food science’: it’s the whole gamut of food-related activity being conducted in and around Norwich. That includes food and drink production, brewing and distilling, farming and agri-tech, crop and soil science, gut health, food research, and microbiology.

There’s also higher and further education looking at food-related disciplines across the board, from agriculture to catering, food technology, business studies, animal care, you name it.

Within that definition, Norwich has unique assets. Scientists and researchers on Norwich Research Park; food and drink experts across the county and particularly on the Food Enterprise Park at Honingham, with the county’s Food, Farming and Countryside champions, the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, along with Easton College, co-located assets the southwestern edge of Norwich. They are all doing amazing work and that work is growing.

So, in a word: unique.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone thinking of moving to Norwich for work, what would it be?

Do it. There’s nowhere else quite like it on Earth.

Mike’s Norwich picks…

• Yalm – an ever-unfolding pleasure!
• The Oxfam Bookshop near Jarrolds.
• “I spent every Tuesday at the Leslie Terrance Plant Café at the end of Waterloo Road. It’s now moved into the centre which is great! Also: Dicks Café/Bar, Café W in Waterstones (quiet!)”
• “Always love The Forum, even just as a meeting place. The Cathedral Close, Tombland and Timberhill are lovely spots to just ramble through.”