Hosted by Sheffield Hallam University
Please click on their name to find out more about each mentor
Originally from the Isle of Man, Kirsty studied Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Nottingham. As part of her degree she completed a year in industry working with Cereal Partners in the South West of England on both Nestle and Own Label breakfast cereals. She launched several limited edition flavours and nutritional renovations across the year.
After graduation Kirsty decided to stay in the Midlands and started working for PepsiCo in their long term vegetable snack research department, investigating how to incorporate whole vegetable into existing and new types of snacks. In 2022, she moved in the Quaker Oats Europe team working as a product developer. In the past year, she has launched a new ‘Caramelised Biscuit’ flavoured porridge pot and sachet and is working on several new additions to the Quaker range for 2024.
Zoe Shuttlewood is a food safety professional with over 20 years of experience in factory quality assurance, food safety management systems and supplier quality, she has been working for McCormick since 2011. Zoe obtained her Masters’ degree in Food safety Management from the University of Central Lancashire and is a registered food safety manager (RFoodSM) with the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST).
Working as a subject matter expert within McCormick’s Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs team focusing on risk sciences, Zoe is accountable for raw material & allergen control program governance. Activities within these programs include evolving raw material risk assessments using the latest scientific and historical data. Participation in horizon scanning activities and working with key trade association on areas of emerging risk with a focus on contaminants and allergens.
An expert in food law and regulation, Richard has worked in food research (advising on food law in Europe, the Middle East and Africa), in retail (managing label compliance for a leading retailer and representing retailers to Government) and in manufacturing for the chilled dairy, ice cream and confectionery sectors – supporting innovation and renovation, representing the confectionery industry to the European Union institutions, and line management of scientific and legal specialists. He is immediate past chair of the Regulatory and Scientific Committee of CAOBISCO (Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of Europe).
In Mars, Richard leads scientific and regulatory horizon scanning at enterprise level, to anticipate business threats and innovation opportunities. In addition, he participates in the work of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius on harmonisation of standards, to facilitate Mars’ future freedom to operate. This work includes leading the IFT Codex Team for Food Labelling.
Richard studied food technology at the University of Reading.
Hi, I’m Savannah, I am the Early Careers and Skills Specialist at Greencore. I look after everything from Early Careers Attraction, Selection and Onboarding for our programmes such as Engineering Apprenticeships, Degree Apprenticeships, Graduate Schemes and Placement Students. I work on the building of campaigns for Early Career programmes through building relationships with schools, Universities and having a strong social media presence. Managing the end-to-end recruitment and candidate experience through interviews, assessment centres and site tours. Ensuring all government legislations are met and producing contracts, offer letters, keep warm activities and the design and delivery of first week induction. The best thing about my role is the networking and being able to meet new people from all cultures, backgrounds, and cross functions. I also like the scope the role offers for creativity and the encouragement of bringing in new innovative ideas to help redesign process' and innovation.
I started off as a Degree Apprentice myself, working full time as well as studying for a Chartered Leadership and Management Degree working through multiple functions within HR but found a passion for Early Careers!
Richard has worked in the food industry for nearly 25 years holding numerous roles in manufacturing and retail ranging from production, to development and finally ending up with a career in Technical. A leading food safety expert for the Co-op Food Group Richard has a keen interest in microbiology, food borne viruses, processing best practices and production operational efficiency.
Facing in to new challenges and emerging risks is a key area for the Food Industry especially with the new challenges posed by global warming. Richard is part of many industry forums discussing and mitigating risks in the supply chain ensuring Co-op product and brand are not only protected but maintain their high quality position.
Keen on staff development and training Richard is a former student from Sheffield Hallam University and now shares his industry experience part time lecturing at the university that originally educated him. A champion for apprentices Richard’s current apprentice won the Food and Drink Federations Apprentice of the Year last year.
I am a 25 year professionally trained artisan baker (The School of Artisan Food) with a BSc in food science and technology (NTU). Currently working in NPD/RND for Fosters Bakery, A commercial bakery that provides predominately bread products to the food service industry as well as sandwich manufactures.
A physiologist by training, Penny studied Biomedical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen before completing a PhD at the University of Hertfordshire and University of Cambridge. After several years in academic research, she took a one-year position at Mars to try out industry and has never left.
Within Mars, Penny has worked in Scientific and Regulatory affairs, fundamental research for both humans and pets and, science communications.
Currently she leads the Mars Nutrition Community working to help business leaders to understand emerging science and shape evidence-based policies as well as Mars in national and international scientific fora.
Hi I am Jade Murby and I currently work for Samworth Brothers under the meals category as a Senior Development Technologist.
Samworth Brothers is the first company I have worked for since graduating University.
I love my job and the people with the perks of eating food daily while developing new and exciting ready meals!
With a BSc in Sports Science from York St John, Alex began his recruitment career in Stamford in 2006 and since then has specialised in Technical, Quality and Hygiene recruitment specifically within the food, fresh produce, and horticultural industries.
Alex joined MorePeople in 2022 as Associate Director, continuing to use his experience recruiting Technical, Quality, NPD and Hygiene professionals focussing mainly on middle management to director level roles within the food and fresh produce sectors.
My passion is to ensure food is designed safely, made in safe factories that consistently delight customers in their range, quality and nutritional composition.
I’m currently responsible for food safety, legality and quality within the fresh food areas of Asda brand – ready meals, Food to go, cafe bakery, core chilled and frozen. I’ve been back at Asda for 8 years having worked here 4 years prior as a technical manager- in that period covering ambient as well as fresh foods. I lead the supplier engagement and food waste minimisation strategy for the technical teams and I also lead the people training agenda for the wider own brand team.
Prior to this, I’ve worked at retailers across the M62 in senior technical leadership roles - one in the manufacturing arm of Morrisons, and the other at the Co-Op –commercial and customer facing – covering depots, produce, fresh and ambient food, including a short stint in non-edible grocery.
Before retailing, I worked in manufacturing for over 15 years - both brands and own label. Suppliers you may recognise include Warburton’s, Premier foods, Baxters food group, Oscar Meyer & 2 sisters. Manufacturing experience covered areas such as Sandwiches and sushi, ambient cooking sauces, Jams, pickles, fresh and frozen ready meals, and bakery.
I’m proud to say I’m a graduate of Leeds university from 1993 where I studied Food science and nutrition having a particular fondness for Microbiology, Colloids and chemistry. I now support the university by sitting on the industrial advisory board to give something back to the institution that shaped my career.
Carmen is a Technical Manager at Raynor Foods and is responsible for the management of technical, quality and sustainability compliance. She ensures that the Food safety and Quality management system (FSQMS) is fully compliant with all relevant certification standards and at best excels as ‘top of class’ in our industry.
Dr. Cecile Morris has a background in chemistry and food chemistry. After completing a PhD sponsored by Weetabix Ltd at the University of Nottingham, she moved to New Zealand to work in food analysis and specialised in pesticide and veterinary drug residues testing. She subsequently moved to France to work as a Laboratory Manager providing analytical services to the food industry and food retailers.
She came back to the UK and academia in 2007 to work on the impact of food structure on its sensory properties in the context of salt reduction. As a result of this, she developed an interest and expertise in sensory science, and she taught food composition and sensory evaluation for several years at the University of Nottingham and Sheffield Hallam University.
She is now Head of the Department for Service Sector Management at Sheffield Hallam University and supervises PhD and MSc students in the areas of food consumer attitude and behaviour. She is a Fellow of the IFST and a registered Sensory Scientist.
Natalie graduated from the University of Lincoln with a degree in Management in Marketing and before joining MorePeople has held a variety of marketing roles across multiple industries including Publishing, Retail and Insurance.
Joining MorePeople in 2021, Natalie looks after all aspects of our internal and external brand and digital marketing.