Newport-based outsourced services specialists Smart Solutions has expanded its training division with the launch of a bespoke service for the food sector, drawing on the extensive experience of its managing director.

Smart Solutions Training food academy offers a ‘one stop shop’ for training in the food sector, with a comprehensive range of industry-specific qualifications to make businesses and their employees more effective in their job roles.

The offering includes accreditations from FDQ, ILM, C&G, Highfields and IOSH as well as Food Safety, HACCP, COSHH, and food manufacturing excellence qualifications specific to the bakery, meat, ready-meal and brewery industries. It delivers programmes aimed at sector employees ranging from pre-entry to postgraduate level, as well as providing production consultancy services to clients.

Driving the UK-wide food academy forward is Jon Hayward, managing director of Smart Solutions Training.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the food sector, Mr Hayward has worked for leading UK manufacturers including Cargill, RHM and Speciality Sauce Company in roles such as general manager and manufacturing manager.

He also worked as divisional operations manager for the Serious Food Company, formerly Sunjuice Ltd. During his nine years working for that business, he led a team of 350 employees and managed five manufacturing plants, which had a combined turnover of £85m.

Mr Hayward was accountable for all operations activity within the company and had significant exposure to the UK’s major retailers, including attaining three consecutive Grade A BRC audits and Grade A Marks and Spencer’s PPC audit scores. He also had overall responsibility for the strategic implementation of lean manufacturing processes throughout the business.

Mr Hayward said: “The food and drinks sector is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK and is vital to the UK economy, contributing more than £100bn annually to the economy and employing one in seven people.

“During my time working in the food sector, I noticed that there was a gap in the market for a comprehensive, industry-specific training provision tailored to manufacturers’ needs.

“The food industry is incredibly diverse, with an extensive range of business and sector-specific skills needed for success. Launching this new food academy will allow us to meet the training needs of the UK’s food and drink sector in one place.

“We will provide a one-stop service for food manufacturers and retailers, who can be confident that we have the necessary skills, experience and accreditations to deliver the full spectrum of qualifications that they need their staff to attain.

“Working alongside me, I have an established food academy team who have experience in delivering high-quality training to meet the codes of practice set by some of the UK’s largest retailers, including Tesco and Marks & Spencer’s, and we will also be able to deliver bespoke training programmes.”

Smart Solutions’ food academy is just one of the new services that the company has introduced in the last 12 months, as it continues its ambitious expansion strategy. In addition to the food academy, it has launched divisions focusing specifically on driver recruitment and building services, as well as introducing new executive search and select services as part of its established permanent recruitment division.