Bakery entrepreneur appointed to National Skills Academy board

Phil Black - PII Editor 15/06/2009

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The National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing has appointed a leading baker to its board of directors.

David Williams, MD of Nottingham-based Butt Foods Ltd, has joined the nine-strong board, which includes representatives from across the food and drink sector and is chaired by Paul Wilkinson, chairman of confectionary and cereals group Big Bear and Produce World.

Williams started his career as a delicatessen manager within Greater Nottingham Co-operative Society before joining start up company Butt Foods in 1990. The company supplies innovative bakery products – including bread bowls which can hold soups and stews – to leading European retailers, foodservice companies and manufacturers. It currently employs 40 staff and bakes up to 60 million products per year.

Academy director Justine Fosh said: “As the MD of an SME in the food and drink industry David brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in terms of what training and skills companies want.

“He further enhances the diverse range of backgrounds from across the sector that make up the board. They form an invaluable resource which will help continue the development of the National Skills Academy in response to the industry’s needs.”

As well as his new role with the academy, Mr Williams has just completed a 2-year term as Chairman of the Food and Drink Forum, an industry-led membership organisation for firms within the food supply chain in the East Midlands, and is a non-executive director of East Midlands Business Ltd, an organisation which helps SMEs in the region to start, grow and compete.

David said: “Getting talented people to use and develop their skills is vital in an SME.
There is a great opportunity to listen carefully to what SME businesses want and ensure that the Academy is meeting their needs and requirements nationally; making the training process accessible, straightforward and relevant.”

Other board members include; Tim Smith, chief executive of the Food Standards Agency; Professor Colin Dennis, director general of Campden BRI; Bob Spooner, group operations director of Premier Foods; David Eslick, director of production at Britvic; Jack Matthews, CEO of food and drink sector skills council Improve; Ellen Cockburn, HR director of Foodvest and Ed Bales, MD of Poultec Training.

For more information about the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing visit www.foodanddrink.nsacademy.co.uk