YTKO West of England & Grow Your Own

Nicola Deschamps (pictured left) writes the latest Bristol Good Food story about how YTKO’s Grow Your Own project has helped three new eateries with diverse food heritage. If you are a food business looking to grow or establish yourself in Bristol, find out how YTKO’s specialised support can help you thrive.

Working across the UK, YTKO* delivers fully funded financial, strategic, and operational assistance to independent businesses, supporting aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, and established enterprises.  

In Bristol, YTKO leads the Grow Your Own project, funded by the West of England Combined Authority and Bristol City Council. With a particular focus on Bristol’s food and hospitality sectors, YTKO offers free and specialised support and targeted training to individuals who have an original idea or need help setting up or growing an existing business within the City of Bristol.  

Through online and in-person workshops and drop-in sessions, entrepreneurs can benefit from advice on various aspects of business: developing a product idea, identifying a customer base, seeking additional funding, self-employment guidelines, administration, and general finance and marketing advice. The YTKO team includes in-house experts in general business, marketing, and hospitality. They can also connect individuals with experts in specific areas of food or hospitality if needed. In addition, drop-in sessions are available at The Food Source in St. Nicholas market every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 14:00. 

Support is available for all residents of the City of Bristol, including young adults aged 18 to 24 who want to work in the food or hospitality industry. YTKO offers a welcoming and easily accessible service with straightforward online registration, an introductory session, and specialised support provided in person and online, which is helpful for those who cannot attend drop-in sessions. 

By supporting local entrepreneurs, Grow Your Own helps to boost the local economy, employ locals, including vulnerable people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and strengthen community ties. YTKO aims to give entrepreneurs confidence and resilience by training and connecting individuals, encouraging them to network, build their businesses, and become independent and successful. 

YTKO wants to engage more entrepreneurs and support as many new local businesses as possible. By spreading the word about the free services available, YTKO hopes to continue supporting new businesses far beyond the project lifecycle. The team continues to work hard to develop the services provided by the Grow Your Own project to assist more people and offer a wider range of training. 

The support provided by the Grow Your Own project has proven crucial to participants, providing them with the essential backing, personal encouragement, invaluable advice, and direction, as well as the necessary skills to launch, shape and manage their businesses. Since the project’s launch in January 2024, YTKO is proud to have helped three new eateries with diverse food heritage. These start-ups include Ceylon and Beyond (Sri Lankan), Calabash (Jamaican), and Red Tiger (Malaysian). Each enterprise launched at St Nicholas Market on Thursday 26 September.  

*PS: For those who are curious, the name ‘YTKO’ is a combination of the founders’ initials! 

For further information go to www.growyourownbristol.com or contact the YTKO team on 0800 456 1311 or email info@growyourownbristol.com 

To learn more about eligibility go to westofengland.ytko.com/brisbes If ineligible, contact the business engagement officer at Bristol City Council to discuss available options: www.bristol.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-advice/starting-a-new-business 

For more news, stories and events about good food in Bristol, representing everyone interested and involved in the Good Food Movement in Bristol, sign up for the Bristol Good Food Update.

Nicola Deschamps (ANutr) is a nutritionist, author and editor: targeteditorial.co.uk.