The judging panel for the Meat Management Industry Awards’ Young Manager of the Year accolade recently gathered at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, for a full day of interviews with the four finalists.
The judges were looking for outstanding candidates aged 32 and under who have achieved qualifications or made exceptional progress as a young meat manager – either through an industry scheme or via a business.
The finalists
The four finalists included: Vipul Chauhan of Tulip; Helena Field of Cranswick Country Foods; Gerard (Ger) Kennedy of Dawn Meats and Christopher Snow of Foyle Food Group.
Helena told Meat Management: “My time to date with Cranswick has consisted of hard work and dedication which have combined to put me in the position where I am today.”
Commenting on Ger’s application, Helen Rees, group HR director at Dawn Meats, said: “Ger’s rapid rise through the company is testament to his hardworking and meticulous nature. Ger demonstrates all the key skills and characteristics required to succeed in this industry and is a real asset to the business.”
Christopher told the judges: “I feel attitude, work ethic and loyalty to the company are vital. I want to be the best at everything I do and I pride myself of having a good, committed working attitude.”
Commenting on Vipul’s application, Graeme Clapp, commercial director, SV Cuisine, Tulip, said: “In my mind the most tangible measure of Vipul’s innate talents as a manager is the ability to organise multiple projects and persons from a standing start with no pre-existing procedures or documentation to aid him.”
The judges
The judging panel consisted of six meat industry experts and was chaired by Meat Management publisher Graham Yandell.
The panel included: Keith Fisher, chief executive of the Institute of Meat; Bill Jermey, chief executive of the Food & Drink Training & Education Council; Christine Walsh, managing director of Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd; Rob Smith, UK market director of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council; and Emily Ansell Elfer, editor of Meat Management.
Speaking after the judging day, Walsh said: “It was great to have the opportunity to meet such inspiring and effective managers. They are a real credit to their companies. What was really evident was the benefits for the companies who have set-up graduate/manager development programmes.”
Fisher added: “To sit on the panel is both an honour and a privilege. It is inspiring to witness a future generation of meat industry leaders and to see the commitment, dedication, enthusiasm and passion they demonstrate is fantastic.”
Smith said: "Being a judge of the Meat Management Industry Awards Young Manager category is quite a cathartic experience and one that I can recommend. I can confirm that if these candidates are a reflection of the talent in the industry then the future looks bright."
Ansell Elfer added: “I was extremely impressed by the calibre of all four finalists. It was interesting to hear what attracted them to the meat industry, their ambitions for the future and their views on the bigger picture. Choosing a winner was no easy task and I am looking forward to congratulating all four finalists at our Awards dinner in June.”
The Young Manager of the Year 2017 winner will be revealed at The Meat Management Industry Awards 2017 black-tie dinner. The event takes place on Wednesday 28th June at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
To book your ticket visit www.meatmanagment.com/awards or phone Emma Cash on 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.
