As the new annual Women In Meat Awards continues to grab the imagination of industry, various high-profile businesses and organisations across the UK meat sector have confirmed their support, both as category partners and participants.
The Awards ceremony and black-tie dinner is scheduled to take place in London on Friday 16th November and is set to be a complete sell out.
One of the latest category partners to offer its backing is the major freight forwarding business Maritime Cargo Services (MCS). It joins leading industry suppliers and companies, including Marel, Kerry, Cutting Edge Services, RSPCA Assured, The Institute of Meat, Columbus and Proseal, in supporting the initiative.
Respected female-focused organisations Ladies In Beef and Ladies In Pigs are also supporting the campaign as partners.
The Awards will now celebrate excellence every year from 2018 onward, and are designed to recognise the wealth of female talent working in today’s UK meat industry. It will also add profile to many career opportunities that are available by revealing successful role models who are the nominated finalists.
MCS partner Emily Shelley explained why she is backing the campaign. She said: “MCS is proud to support the Women in Meat Industry Awards. All our employees – both female and male – demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and this is how we outperform the opposition. These awards are an excellent way to recognise the hard work of the many talented people working across the various meat sectors and the idea has our full support.”
Sam Tinsley of Cutting Edge Services added: “We think this is a fantastic new initiative to get behind that will recognise the vital contributions that many inspiring women have made to the success of the meat industry. We are proud to be involved as a sponsor for the award for Craft Butchery, a sector close to our hearts and our heritage as a business. Celebrating the tremendous female talent within the meat and butchery industry is something we’re more than proud to do and to encourage the next generation of female craft butchers.”
Graeme Rolinson, regional general manager for Marel – UK & Ireland operations, was equally positive: “This is a timely and innovative awards programme and we at Marel are right behind the concept. There is a wide selection of brilliant talent in the UK meat industry and recognising that talent and encouraging it is a very positive development.”
A range of leading companies and trade bodies have already booked to attend the dinner at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington on 16th November. Details of finalist were announced in July and all voting is now in, with over 3, 000 received at the last count.
The 2018 award categories are:
Meat Businesswoman Award – FoodserviceMeat Businesswoman Award – RetailingMeat Businesswoman Award – ManufacturingMeat Businesswoman Award – Craft ButcheryMeat Businesswoman Award – Trade BodyMeat Businesswoman Award – WholesalingThe Rising Star AwardMeat Businesswoman of the Year Award
Industry was asked to nominate the women they felt deserved an award. Four finalists for each category were then listed and publicised for additional voting and all the winners will be revealed at the Awards ceremony.
The dinner and ceremony will be hosted by celebrity chef and businesswoman Lesley Waters who will also reveal the recipient of the overall Meat Businesswoman of the Year Award.
Graham Yandell, Publisher of Meat Management magazine, which is running the initiative, said he is delighted with the outstanding support and reaction received from across the meat sector.
He added: “The response to the Women In Meat Awards has been really positive, well exceeding our expectations. Everyone at Meat Management magazine is really delighted that the Women In Meat Awards concept has been so well received. I am very confident that the campaign will culminate in a fantastic evening on 16th November. The response so far to the black-tie dinner means it is set to be a sell-out and we may actually have a waiting list for tickets, so anyone looking to join us and have a brilliant evening celebrating talent and enterprise should act quickly!”
For details of booking tickets and tables at the awards ceremony and black tie dinner, email Emma Cash on emma.c@yandellmedia.com or call 01908 613323. To enquire about sponsorship, email Michelle Ingerfield on michelle.i@yandellmedia.com or call 01908 613323.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
