10 QMYOU / Sustainable Business
Business expert creates food map of East Lothian
BUSINESS AND CONSUMER expertise from QMU has been used to develop an interactive map of East Lothian ’ s food and drink businesses .
The new map will highlight the wide range of food producers , growers , retailers and social enterprises that operate throughout the county .
Mike Pretious , from QMU ’ s Division of Business , Enterprise and Management , has a keen interest in social enterprises and food businesses . As Chair of Social Enterprise East Lothian he is also involved in an offshoot group ‘ Food of East Lothian ’, which is striving to create a sustainable environment which supports the development of a strong food business culture within the county .
With funding from NHS Lothian and East Lothian Council , Mike , together with a QMU graduate , has carried out a mapping exercise of all the enterprises across East Lothian with an association with food .
He explained : “ We really wanted to understand the breadth and depth of the range of food organisations within the area , and to create awareness of the different geographical zones of food across farming / growers , fish merchants , seed merchants , small trade production , large scale enterprise , social enterprises , family business , farmers ’ markets and retail .”
Mike contracted Alison Stone , a recent graduate from QMU ’ s MSc Gastronomy course , to help with the creation of the map . Alison ’ s newly launched business ‘ 3 Minutes to Midnight ’ focuses on the area of sustainability within the food industry . She now operates full-time from QMU ’ s Business Innovation Zone , the university base which supports the development of new graduate start-ups .
Alison explained : “ This was a fantastic project to be involved in , both personally and professionally , and presented several research opportunities and challenges . The first was to identify a technology platform which could deliver the mapping functionality , without blowing the budget . The second challenge was to locate all the food and beverage outlets for inclusion within the map . Finding details of commercial premises was easy - trying to identify the more community based projects , such as growing schemes , allotments and other food producing social enterprises , proved to be more difficult . The final piece of the jigsaw involved geo-mapping the data and presenting it in a meaningful way , with keys and colour coding to denote the different business sectors .”
Mike confirmed : “ The mapping exercise provides a true picture as to the size and variety of food businesses within the area . We now hope to participate in the creation of a regional food hub which will aid contact between different parties and encourage buying and selling between businesses .”
Mike said : “ We feel the food map will be a useful resource for businesses , the economic development unit within the Council and NHS Lothian when it launches in the near future .
It can be used to strengthen business to business links , as well as creating connections between the food industry and the health service , which will ultimately contribute to the economic health of East Lothian .”
Mike concluded : “ This project was initiated by Food of East Lothian and we have ambitious and exciting plans to further develop a strong food culture across the county – the map is just the start .” ❒
Alison Stone ’ s business , 3 Minutes to Midnight , specialises in the food , drink and tourism sector and offers consultancy services to assist clients in identifying , measuring and reporting their company ’ s current commitment to sustainable development practices .
Contact Alison T : 07724 4646806 E : alison @ 3minutestomidnight . co . uk www . 3minutestomidnight . co . uk
10 QMYOU / Sustainable Business