TERN - Food Power

Food has forever been a bridge between people, bonding people together and fosters trust between strangers. TERN created Food Power, an incubation programme aimed at refugee founders and in collaboration with KERB & Mission Kitchen, in response to a demand from their community, where 30% of the founders want to open a food business.

The free 6 months programme runs from October to April every year and covers all the components of food entrepreneurship, including practical sessions and 2 showcases open to the public. Participants learn about market research, compliance and health & safety. They build their own brand, register their business & and learn how to access finance. Carefully selected partners provide a pathway to markets & access to finance to make their business ideas a reality.

Alongside Food Power, TERN provides all year-round business support through the Food & Beverage portfolio team. The community has access to regular business drop-ins, advisors’ meetings and opportunities filtered through various community broadcasts.

Once the founders have gained experience, they’re invited to shape the future of TERN by delivering programmes, coaching & business support to the next generation of refugee entrepreneurs. To date, TERN has supported 18 Food Power graduates, facilitated 18 access to market, generating 1.7M + revenue for the founders. The F&B portfolio currently supports 124 food entrepreneurs at various stages of their business journey.

People with refugee backgrounds in the UK often seek new ways of starting again in the host country. While their qualifications & skills aren’t always valid, sharing food is a universal way of making a living for newcomers. With Food Power, TERN supports marginalised people in a marginalised industry with the aim to turn food entrepreneurs into leaders & opportunity providers in their chosen field.