I worked on an interim basis as a Business Development Strategist for the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (Improve - Food and Drink Sector Skills Council) , supporting the organisation through a period of strategic change towards a more commercial model regarding revenue generation and relationship development with employers , training providers and awarding organisations and certification bodies..

Whilst with BPEC, who are an awarding and certification body working in Plumbing, Heating and Renewables training sectors, I headed the Sales & Marketing department as part of the senior management team. My achievements with BPEC included:• 20% growth in FE College and Private Centre Training Centre customer base • 30% growth in Turnover • 30% growth in Profits • The successful launch of a suite of renewable training courses and assessments• The successful launch & growth of full NVQ plumbing and heating qualifications• Two successful revisions of the BPEC website• The introduction of a social media presence for BPEC• The introduction of a BPEC CRM• BPEC attending and exhibiting at a range of trade shows and exhibitions• Ensuring BPEC complied with its regulatory requirements via OFQUAL and UKAS• Ensuring BPEC lobbied and influenced important government departments such as DECC and DCLG as well as sector skills councils such as E&USkills and Summitskills

During my time with the Food and Drink Forum (FDF), who are a business support organisation supporting SME food companies across the East Midlands, I lead the sales and marketing function including managing the regional food group East Midlands Fine Foods (EMFF). Achievements whilst with the Food & Drink Forum included:• Supply of regional food to supermarkets such as Asda, Budgens, Waitrose and the Coop.• The set up of a monthly Regional Fine Food Market in Nottingham Market Square attracting between 40 and 50 stallholders on each occasion• The growth of FDF membership by over 50%• Strong presence of regional food specialists via the EMFF exhibition stand at several national food exhibitions such as The Speciality and Fine Food Fair and the Food and Drink Expo• Successful delivery of project economic outputs required by funders such as emda, Food for Britain and DEFRA• Large regional food presence at various sub regional events such as BBC Springwatch and the East Midlands Regional Food Fair.• The Establishment of the ground breaking Southglade Food Park Nottingham offering incubation premises and business support facilities to start up and SME food companies• The supply of local food to various public sector establishments such as Nottingham NHS Trust, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derbyshire County Council and the Lincolnshire NHS Trust.

I worked within the Food and Distribution and Logistics Industry in both sales and operations roles after initially following a NFC Graduate Management Training Scheme with the transport company BRS (now EXEL logistics). Most notably during this period I held the position of Sales Manager (Nottingham) for the Food Service catering bakery The Bread Roll Company driving considerable growth from a standing start to a turnover in excess of £15,000 per week, supplying large Food Service organisations such as Sodexho , Compass , Aramark and Initial.