Winners of food industry training awards revealed
Verner Wheelock, the leading food industry training company based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, has just announced the winners of its prestigious annual Excellence Awards.
First introduced at the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2015, the Awards recognise outstanding students in HACCP, Auditing and Food Safety. In addition, prizes are awarded for Individual, Company and Ethical Excellence.
The winners of the 2023 Verner Wheelock Excellence Awards are:
- Food Safety Student of the Year – Victoria Phipps, AB World Foods
- Auditing Student of the Year – Ben Morrison, Avara Foods
- HACCP Student of the Year – Sara Hardacre, Warburtons
- Individual Excellence Award – Trevor Gane, Beatson Clark
- Company Excellence Award – James Hall & Co. Ltd
- Ethical Excellence Award – The Turmeric Co.
Food Safety winner, Victoria Phipps, achieved an amazing 98.5% in her RSPH Level 4 Food Safety examination and was an excellent student. “I am extremely grateful to have been awarded Food Safety Student of the Year after completing my Level 4 course and achieving a great exam result. Thank you again to all at Verner Wheelock for their support,” she said.
Ben Morrison, recipient of the Auditing Award, commented that his FDQ Lead Auditor course had been “a rewarding learning experience.” Sara Hardacre added that her RSPH Level 4 HACCP training was “outstanding with great content and discussion – I cannot recommend it enough.”
The Individual Excellence Award is given to the person who has shown a real desire to develop through learning. This year’s winner, Trevor Gane, attended Verner Wheelock’s Delivering Training course and underwent a huge transformation in terms of self-belief. By the day of the final practical training session, he proved himself to be not only confident and competent but an excellent trainer too.
Lee Smith, HR Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said, “We’re extremely pleased to be recognised by Verner Wheelock as the winner of their Company Excellence Award for 2023. We have a fantastic working relationship with them, and they play an integral role in ensuring our workforce are skilled in their roles, enabling our business to maintain exceptional standards.”
As well as providing training at all levels in HACCP, Food Safety, Auditing and Specialist subjects, Verner Wheelock is also a respected ethical auditing company. Last year it carried out 250 SMETA ethical audits, so there was stiff competition for the Ethical Excellence Award.
Winner, The Turmeric Co., had an excellent first ethical audit and VWA’s ethical team were extremely impressed with how proactive the company was throughout the entire auditing process.