ONE of the most important dates in the food and drink calendar, the annual Food & Drink Cluster Forum, is set for Worcester Rugby Football Club on Thursday March 2.

The event brings various elements of the West Midlands' food chain together to exchange ideas and learn new skills through a series of inspirational talks and lively workshops.

The conference, which doubles as the annual meeting for Advantage West Midland's Food and Drink Cluster Opportunities Group (COG), will this year also act as the official launch for the new West Midlands Food Partnership, a collaboration of principal delivery bodies and agencies in the region's food and drink sector committed to streamlining and progressing support services for producers and processors.

The free event begins at 10am with registration before a series of addresses by motivational speakers including Helen Thomas, managing director of Westons Cider; Paul Hebblethwaite, group science director for Cadbury Schweppes and chairman of COG chairman; Lord Bach, the Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food, and Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, the ground-breaking black farmer who was raised in the West Midlands before moving to Devon to farm beef and lamb.

Delegates have the option to attend up to three short and snappy 20-minute workshops covering business topics such as preparing for international trade, getting fit for HACCP, e-learning and how to strengthen branding.

For more information contact the Heart of England fine foods on 01746 785185.