Meat Training Council expands its remit to food supply chain

Meat Training Council expands its remit to food supply chain

Posted on Mar 4, 2014

The national meat training charity, MTC, is to expand its charitable remit to cover the full food supply chain and will now be known as the Food and Drink Training and Education Council Ltd (FTC).

The Food and Drink Training and Education Council will have an overarching objective to advance the education of the public in the food industry.

PTF’s Clare Cheney will sit on the new FTC board and said: “I am delighted to be involved at this key stage.”

To this end the FTC board is made up of a select group of food industry professionals, headed up by Chairman John Proctor, retired HR director of the Dunbia Group. John is supported by Clare Cheney, director general of the Provision Trade Federation; Andrew Brodie, HR director for the Faccenda Group; Jane Downes ex-Food Standards Agency (FSA); Andy McGowan UK technical manager at IdentiGEN; Damien Murray managing director and owner of Smithfield Murray and Roger Reeson, retired managing director of Dewhurst Butchers.

Bill Jermey, the chief executive of the Food and Drink Training and Education Council, has been the driving force behind the name change and the expansion of the charity’s remit.

“Since the inception of the Meat Training Council in 1986, the food industry has changed significantly. It is vital that the work of our charitable training council should reflect the needs of this industry, said Bill.

“This name change has been part of a lengthy legal process which began a year ago, and is now complete. We are delighted to announce that our charity is now known as the Food and Drink Training and Education Council Ltd or FTC. This move has only been possible thanks to the support we have received from various trade bodies and businesses within the food industry.

“The Meat Training Council (MTC) still exists and it will be business as usual, with Chief Executive Keith Fisher in charge” confirmed Bill Jermey.

Clare Cheney, Director General of the Provision Trade Federation and an FTC board member said: “I am delighted to be involved at this key stage in the evolution of the Food and Drink Training and Education Council. It is exciting to be part of a growing charity with so much potential build skills and talent and to encourage young people to enter the food industry.”

Jon Poole, chief executive of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), a key supporter of the newly named charity explains why he is behind the change: “The food sector faces a critical need to attract and develop the right skills for the future. IFST recognises that this can only be done through a concerted and collaborative effort.”

The Food and Drink Training and Education Council Ltd (FTC) will be the parent company of a group of companies which will include the Institute of Meat (IoM), FDQ, and the Meat Training Council (MTC).