Community Food Incubators

A community food incubator is a community-led initiative designed to provide start-ups and early-stage businesses with the support and resources they typically find difficult to access.

The support could involve:

• access to networks, investors and mentors
• training in various areas such as food safety, sales, marketing and logistics
• access to commercial-grade kitchen facilities

What is the project about?

It's looking to establish community food incubators in the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.

Impact on Urban Health wants to use food incubators to make Black-led food enterprises more sustainable and give local families healthier food choices. The project has two phases:

• A research and discovery phase to help understand the potential barriers that Black food entrepreneurs face in running their businesses
• Programme development where the incubators are developed and established

Who is running the project?

The project is funded by Impact on Urban Health. It has commissioned Do It Now Now and three partners – Lime Hut, CREATE YOUR TABLE and The Black Farmer Market, who are all local charity and social enterprises – to work on the first phase of the project, which will involve a series of community-led discussions and workshops.

Who can take part?

Black food entrepreneurs are the primary target for this phase of the project. Individuals and businesses who provide support to Black food entrepreneurs or involved in the wider Black food value chain can also take part.

What does this part of the programme involve?

Participants will speak about their experiences as Black food entrepreneurs or their experiences working with them. This will involve one-to-one conversations with the project team, co-design workshops and surveys.

By taking part, you'll work in groups to develop ideas that will enable Impact on Urban Health to establish effective community food incubators in Lambeth and Southwark.

Why should I participate?

You'll be helping to establish community food incubators for Black entrepreneurs in the Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. These incubators will help build more sustainable and profitable local Black food businesses.

Taking part in programmes like these also gives you excellent networking opportunities.

When will the first phase happen?

The research and design phases of the project are in December 2022, January, February and March 2023.

Who do I contact if you need more information?

If you have any questions or need further information on the programme, feel free to contact Dezrika Ramsey at Dezrika@doitnownow.com or 07564 055119.

Eligibility requirements

Black food entrepreneurs are the primary target for this phase of the project. Individuals and businesses who provide support to Black food entrepreneurs or involved in the wider Black food value chain can also take part.