The London Enterprise Office

Bio

For the past nine years Simon has managed and delivered university-based consultancy and training services for food manufacturers and advised over 700 businesses.

On-site consultancy work has focused on improving work practices, management systems and documentation in the areas of: food hygiene, food safety, quality management, production management and new product development to ensure companies can meet any of the following standards:

* British Retail Consortium Global Food Standard

* SALSA (Safe And Local Supplier Approval) Scheme Standard

* CMi's Due Diligence Audit Standard for the Safe and Legal Production of Food

* Food Standards Agency's Safer Food Better Business toolkit

Simon helped write a National Training Programme for Community Food Workers, which was accredited by the London Open College Network. He wrote a report entitled "Local Food Policies and Cultural Diversity in London" on behalf of the Government Office for London. Simon also assists a range of community-based social enterprise involved in food access achieve market and financial sustainability.

Experience

Simon has a degree in Geography, a MSC in Food Safety and Control and has teaching and auditing qualifications. He worked for McDonald's and BHS before specialising in the fine food sector and has run a delicatessen, set up and managed a wholesale business supplying London hotels and been Managing Director of a biscuit manufacturer.

Simon has also demonstrated entrepreneurship by leading three successful start-up companies: two university-based technology transfer advisory services and a wholesale distribution business. He has gained "hands-on" understanding of SMEs by working as a Senior Manager and Director in this sector for over twenty years. Ability to identify and exploit niche markets. Made bold strategic decisions such as closing a factory and sub-contracting manufacture. Taken full profit responsibility and added value for shareholders. Successfully advised and trained several hundred SME food manufacturers on food, legislation, food hygiene, food safety and quality management, ensuring both legal compliance and certification to industrially recognised third party standards.

Qualifications

BA Hon. in Geography, Durham University, 1978
Post-Graduate Certificate of Education, Brighton Polytechnic, 1979
MSc Food Safety and Control, South Ban University, 2003
Registered Tutor with Chartered Institute of Environmental Health 2005
Third party auditor to the BRC Global Standard - Food (Issue 4) 2006
ISO 9000:2000 Series trained auditor/lead auditor 2006
Registered SALSA Auditor and Mentor 2007

Membership of Professional Associations

Member of the Institutes of Directors
Member of the Institute of Food Science and Technology
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society