The government is encouraging Manx food and drink manufacturers to enter the Great Taste Awards - the ’Oscars’ of the food industry.

Run by the Guild of Fine Food, the awards recognise the best food and drink produce from throughout the British Isles.

For a third year, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture will hold a free workshop to support producers through the process of entering the awards.

It will take place at the DEFA’s headquarters at Thie Slieu Whallian, St John’s, on Wednesday, January 24, from 6.30pm.

As it encourages continued growth in the £93 million industry, the DEFA will also help established food and drink producers meet the cost of entering the awards.

In 2017, an unprecedented 56 Isle of Man products took awards, double the number the island achieved in 2016.

Isle of Man Creamery’s whey butter and Berries Luxury Pudding Makers and Confectioners’ sea salted caramel sticky toffee pudding made the awards’ top 50, the butter being named top product in the north of England at the awards’ culmination, the Golden Forks.

Overall in 2017, only 35% of products entered in the awards were recognised.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, the Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ’A vibrant food and drink sector is vital to our economy and our reputation as a special place to live, work and visit.

’That we have won so many Great Taste Awards demonstrates to the world the quality of Isle of Man food and drink.

’Winning a Great Taste Award opens up new markets globally, with retailers keen to stock and consumers eager to snap up products displaying the distinctive black and gold logo. That money goes back into the Manx economy, supporting local jobs.

’We appreciate our hard-working producers may need support in putting their products forward for awards, so we are pleased to again offer this.’

To register for a place, email [email protected]