Cotswold Collaborates

Speciality Bites with

Paul Hargreaves

Chief executive of Cotswold Fayre

• Becoming a B Corp
• Top trend predictions for Christmas 2021
• Self-sacrifice: The importance of building a leadership legacy centred on others
• Undercover Boss
• Can/should bosses really be close friends with their staff?

Thursday saw the semi-final of the Cotswold Collaborates Competition

For those that aren’t aware, wandering around Speciality and Fine Food Show last year, I was aware that we are not doing enough to attract young people into this sector.  Combine this with the knowledge that the highest unemployment figures are amongst the 16-24 age group, and I felt a strong desire to do something about it, so Cotswold Collaborates was born: a competition for food entrepreneurs aged 16-24 at the early stage of their business.  The prize is £1,000 cash, a year’s mentoring from me (worth considerably more than £1,000!) and graphic design help from Ashton – our in-house graphic designer.

Entries were taken on-line and a short-list of five drawn up, who presented to us yesterday.  The judging panel was Nicola Whiteford (Founding Editor Great British Food), Robin Tyler (Cotswold Fayre’s Supplier and Sales Manager), Tim Lowden (Food Buyer – Garden Centre Group) and myself.  It was a fantastic and fun day and we were all impressed by the presentation skills, personality and drive of the five individuals.  We had a cookie dough company, doing interesting and innovative things with cookie dough, a gluten-free bakery, a smoothie company, a popsicle (ice lolly) range, and gourmet peanut butters.  The task of the day was to end up with two finalists for the grand final taking place at the Speciality Food Show on 9th September, where they will present again to those present, who will decide upon the winner.  There will also be voting throughout the exhibition and via twitter during the show.  See Speciality Food Magazine for voting information nearer the time.

The encouragement in all this that entrepreneurship is very much alive in this age group.  The ideas are coming out of their ears.  What is needed is older (and possibly wiser) people to steer them in the right direction – and of course people who believe in them enough to invest in them.  I am not sure the £1000 prize money quite does it.  (I was particularly pleased to hear from the bank that they can get me one of those huge cheques to present to the winner on September 9th though!)  This competition is something we are proud to be part of and we will most certainly run it again next year – possibly this time the prize might be an investment in the business for equity.

Have a good week – talk to you again soon.