Success story is a showcase for what can be achieved (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Success story is a showcase for what can be achieved

8:00am Monday 8th June 2009

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LUDLOW has been praised as an example of rural ‘best practice’ after a high-powered foreign delegation visited the town.

The tour, which was organised by the European Policy Information Centre in conjunction with Advantage West Midlands’ Rural Regeneration Zone, saw ministers from Bosnia and Herzegovina enjoy insights into some of the area’s most exciting projects that are helping to create jobs, promote local produce and boost the economy.

Led by Mladen Zirojevic, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the group were treated to lunch and a guided tour of the £2m Ludlow Food Centre and a visit to the town’s Eco-Park and newly launched Rural Enterprise Centre.

The trip – part of a three-day stay in the UK – was designed to show the Bosnian delegation how strategy and policies are delivered at ground level and how important it is to secure the support of local people and business.

Peter Pawsey, chairman of the Rural Regeneration Zone (RRZ), was delighted the area was chosen as a ‘best practice’ example: “They have met a lot of powerful delegates in specialist UK organisations so our role was to take them to the coalface and introduce them to the people who have benefitted most from the work the RRZ is doing,” he said.

Ludlow Food Centre, which was developed by Sandy Boyd, thrives on stocking locally produced food and drink and is responsible for employing 80 people directly and hundreds more in the supply chain.

In addition, the centre also boasts specialist workshops run by entrepreneurs, who make coffee, cheeses, jam and cakes.

“We have tried to create an experience rather than just somewhere you pop in for the grocery shop,”

said Sandy.

The building, which also has a training centre, has been designed to showcase all that is good about agriculture and local produce.

“To host such a high profile visit is a great honour and I hope that some of the aspects of our business can be replicated and taken back to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help them develop their rural economy even further,” Sandy added.

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