14 January 2014

Gavin Darby appointed Chair of Centre of Excellence Advisory Board

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Today, the Food and Drink Federation has welcomed the appointment of Gavin Darby, Chief Executive of Premier Foods, as the Chair of the Food Engineering Industrial Advisory Board (FEIAB) for the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering.

The primary function of the Board, made up of industry representatives and academia, will be to provide strategic input into the faculty business plan. This will include delivery of research and training provision with a focus on industry needs for innovative solutions and skills delivery in engineering.

The Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering will be based at Sheffield Hallam University, which earlier this year received a funding boost of £6.9million from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Additional support is being provided by a range of leading food and drink companies and equipment suppliers.

Gavin Darby, Chair of FEIAB, said: “High quality engineering skills are vital to the future of the food industry whether it be in supporting innovative new products and packaging or finding solutions to improve energy and waste efficiencies. With a looming shortage of qualified food engineers in the UK, it's important we work together to develop the top qualified engineers needed to sustain a successful food and drink industry. The National Center of Excellence is a first class initiative that I'm proud to be a part of.”

Melanie Leech, Director General at the Food and Drink Federation, said: “We are delighted that Gavin Darby has accepted the position of Food Engineering Industrial Advisory Board Chair. Gavin's wealth of industry and leadership experience makes him ideally suited to driving forward the Centre of Excellence project.”

“As well as providing vital leadership for the project, Gavin will also act as a high-level ambassador ensuring that innovation in food and drink is a high priority in industry, government and the research community.”

Dr Martin Howarth, Director of the Centre of Excellence for food engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “We welcome the appointment of Gavin Darby. The Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University will really benefit from the strong leadership and direction of the Industrial Advisory Board in order to deliver on its aims. Gavin's excellent industry background and experience will be welcome in helping to make this happen.”

Note for editors

1. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the voice of the food and drink manufacturing industry – the UK's largest manufacturing sector. For more information about FDF and the industry we represent visit: www.fdf.org.uk
2. The National Centre of Excellence at Sheffield Hallam University builds on the launch of the UK's first food engineering degree. For further information, visit www.foodengineer.co.uk
3. Companies supporting the Centre of Excellence are as follows; apetito, Bradman Lake Group Ltd, Cargill, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Dalehead Foods, Endress and Hauser, FDF, Festo Food and Beverage Industry, General Mills, G's Fresh, Kellogg's, Improve, Invensys, Mars UK, McCain Foods, Nestle , Nalco, Premier Foods, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Spirax-Sarco Engineering Plc, Star Refrigeration Ltd, Tate and Lyle Sugars, The Authentic Food Company, Warburtons, William Jackson Food Group.
4. Companies interested in supporting the Centre of Excellence can find out more information by contacting: selga.speakman-brown@fdf.org.uk.
5. The MEng Food Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University has been developed by Graduate Excellence, a partnership between the Food and Drink Federation, the National Skills Academy for Food Drink and Sheffield Hallam University.

More information

Anna Taylor on 020 7420 7118 Email: Anna.Taylor@fdf.org.uk

Helena O'Neill on 020 7420 7140 Email: Helena.ONeill@fdf.org.uk

Avni Raval on 020 7420 7131 Email: Avni.Raval@fdf.org.uk

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