Paula Widdowson, commercial director of Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, has left the organisation to join Northern Foods in the new position of director of corporate social responsibility.

During her three years as part of the senior executive team, Widdowson has played a leading role in building awareness of the organisation among employers and learning providers, as well as driving key initiatives such as the establishment of the new National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing and the production of the industry’s first Sector Skills Strategy.

“The last three years have been very exciting and fulfilling because everything we have done at Improve has been new,” she said. “However, I think the opportunity to take up this newly created role at Northern Foods is going to be equally compelling, and I am sure it will allow me to continue my involvement in skills issues to some degree.”