Move Your Business to the UK

The Agri-FoodTech Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) brings your business all the benefits of being part of the UK's thriving entrepreneurial scene

We represent the Agri-FoodTech sector for the GEP programme organised by the UK Government's Department for International Trade (DiT).

Our goal is to support the ambitions of international Agritech and Foodtech entrepreneurs. We provide mentoring, business development and investment as well as connecting these entrepreneurs to our investor network.
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Why the UK?

  1. The UK is Europe’s leading startup nation, attracting $11bn in venture capital funding in 2019 (more than the next two biggest, France and Germany, combined)
  2. The UK saw a £10.1bn VC investment into tech companies in 2019, making it the #1 top scaling tech nation in Europe
  3. The UK is placed at the centre of the world with its unique time zone to serve East and West markets
  4. The UK is 3rd in the world for tech unicorns behind only the US and China, with 77 companies valued at over $1bn
  5. Being in the UK puts you in the centre of a forward-thinking country that is at the forefront of sustainability and innovation, targeting Carbon Zero by 2050

The need for agrifood-tech innovation is greater than ever

In 2019, the UK Topped the EU Agri-Food tech funding charts

The UK’s $1.1 billion total accounts for one-third of Europe’s overall total for 2019 investments.

Leading Agri-Food tech companies choose the UK

JCB, Denso, Syngenta, Elanco, Merck and Zoetis have all chosen the UK as their home.

Investment continues to rise

Innovative Food companies in the UK raised more in the first half of 2020 than all of 2019.

Join a strong network

The UK offers a wide University and institutional networks to provide support and to work with high-potential agri-foodtech businesses.

Global Entrepreneur Programme to date:

850

businesses were helped to relocate to the UK

5000

high-quality jobs were created

£1bn

raised in VC and Angel investment

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About the dealmaker

Rob Ward

Entrepreneur, INvestor & GEP Dealmaker

About the dealmaker

Rob focuses on assisting businesses to develop the next generation of innovations in AgriFoodTech, sustainably transforming the future for the farming and food industry from farm to plate.

Rob has a wide experience that spans from running one of the largest commercial soft fruit farms in the UK to product design and innovation (patenting the first commercially available hydroponics field scale strawberry growing system) to creating, building and selling businesses all ranging from grocery retail and wholesale distribution; food and drink CPG  and FoodTech.  

He co-founded the world’s first CPG Seed investment Accelerator for the food industry.  Exiting this business in 2019 he created www.ForwardFood.Tech using his experience of working with early-stage tech applications to ensure that businesses have fully developed their commercial proposition and are investor-ready. ​

Having undertaken a world study tour researching innovation in grocery retail and food and beverage as a Nuffield Farming Research Scholar in 2009, Rob has continued to develop an extensive international network of international business and trade contacts.

What can we do for your business?

We help up-skill and support founders by providing hands-on strategic/tactical assistance, mentoring, coaching, and introductions to the UK’s world-class ecosystem. Once accepted, we provide tailored aftercare to help our alumni scale and internationalise.

Being part of the programme, you will receive:
  1. Mentoring from dealmaker Rob Ward - an experienced entrepreneur in the AgTech/ Food Tech sector
  2. Help to develop business plans
  3. Assistance with relocating to the UK (including Visa, setting up a bank account in the UK, up to date information on tax system)
  4. Providing introductions to key networks including investors
  5. Guidance on how to grow internationally
  6. Continued help from UK’s Department of International Trade (DIT) once located in the UK, especially around exporting
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UK Tax Incentives

The UK has significant tax incentives for entrepreneurs (e.g. EIS investor tax relief, Patent Box, Research & Development cost rebate incentives, Innovate UK Grants).

About Tax Incentives

Who this programme is for

As an overseas-based entrepreneur and founder of an innovative agri-food technology brand, you could be considered to join the UK’s Department of International Trade Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP).​

This programme is only for international brands who want to be at the forefront of technology, sustainability and innovation.

In order to qualify, you must:

  • Have a customer-validated product either already in the market or ready to launch
  • Be willing to relocate and establish the company’s global headquarters in the UK
  • Have a desire to grow globally with a clear commercial proposition
  • Anticipate employing over 10 people in the UK within 3 years

Apply here

Please fill in the form below to apply and we will follow up with next steps.

If you have any questions about applying, use the live chat to talk to us.

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