Properties

Barnsley has an array of industrial premises at very competitive prices, with high quality industrial units from £4.50 per sq ft. In addition, four new business parks are in development at Barnsley's M1 junctions, all of which will provide excellent premises for forward thinking companies.

Research and development

There is an extremely strong research base surrounding biotechnology, a food industry dominant driver, with five universities in the region achieving 5 or 5* within this field. Research bodies and support groups which are driving forward innovation in the food and drink cluster include:

The Procter Department of Food Science at The University of Leeds has recently been awarded a 5* rating for excellence in research.

The Food Innovation Centre at Sheffield Hallam University carries out a wide range of technical projects and provides training courses to meet the needs of the food industry. Its aim is to help small to medium sized food companies in the North and Midlands regions of the UK to become more competitive.

Networking

Companies in Barnsley within the Food & Drink cluster include:

Manor Bakeries, part of Rank Hovis McDougall, the largest manufacturer in the growing £1 billion UK cake market and producer of some of the country’s most recognised cake brands, including Mr Kipling and Cadbury’s cakes.

Fresh-Pak Chilled Foods Ltd, produces egg based products and is a subsidiary company of Perkins Foods Holdings Ltd, the leading European chilled, fresh and frozen foods manufacturer. The company has recently invested £7.5 million in a new plant in Barnsley, which includes the latest, state of the art manufacturing technology.