SMEs get Hackney park opportunities

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the catering industry are being offered the chance to set up shop and sell their wares on a temporary basis in ten of Hackney's parks and green spaces between now and next year.

The opportunity is available to all local businesses and will be trialled in Haggerstone Park, Well St Common, Millifields, Mark St Garden, Hackney Road Recreation Ground and Homerton Grove between June and November 2013.

Firms will also be offered temporary premises for catering facilities in Shoreditch Park, London Fields, Hackney Downs and Stonebridge Gardens between June 2013 and April 2014, as part of an effort to offer park-goers and walkers a bite to eat while enjoying the open air.

Councillor Jonathan McShane, cabinet member for health, social care and culture described the initiative as an attempt to improve facilities in some of the borough's green spaces while offering SMEs in the area an additional premises from which to sell their eatables.

"Hackney has some of the most beautiful and popular parks in London. Now we want to give people greater choice and better facilities in more of the borough's green spaces," he said.

"We want to use this as an opportunity to support local businesses by offering those interested, a chance to apply to run catering facilities in one of the new locations.”

Hackney Council is determined to offer only the best services in its parks and green spaces.

To this end, when it comes to deciding on which businesses will be offered opportunities, the local authority will be basing 75 per cent on its decision on the quality of their eatables and just 25 per cent on the financial package offered.

Interested companies are invited to submit their applications via the local authority's website before the deadline of April 5th. Caterers are advised that they will need to register with the Food Hygiene rating scheme before doing so.

Published 21st March, 2013

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