The Skills Academy in Food and Drink has appointed food industry expert Lord Haskins of Skidby as its first patron.
The academy, which is being developed by Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, will open its doors in Autumn 2006, subject to final government approval.
The council hopes the venture will focus the drive to bring more highly-skilled workers into UK food and drink manufacturing, boosting efficiency and productivity within the sector.
Haskins is the first of a planned group of patrons intended to lend public support to the academy, helping to raise its profile within the industry and among the wider public. The patron’s role will also be to encourage involvement from employers, who will play pivotal roles in managing the academy and driving it to meet the needs of the sector.
Jack Matthews, chief executive of Improve, said: “To have the backing of someone of Lord Haskin’s standing is a real boost for the academy, and will no doubt contribute to its success by helping to secure continued support from employers.”
The Skills Academy will work as a nationwide network of specialist centres of excellence. Most will be based at existing training institutions, which will become accredited to deliver relevant learning programmes geared to meeting a mixture of regional and nationwide requirements.
Commenting on his new role, Haskins said: “I feel privileged to be involved in such an exciting project that will benefit not only the food and drink industry, but the country’s economy as a whole.”
Yorkshire-based Haskins was born in Ireland, the son of a farmer. After moving to England, he joined Northern Foods in 1962, and held the role of chairman from 1986 to 2002.
He has advised both the UK and Irish Governments on agricultural, economic and environmental policy and has been awarded six honorary doctorates, including one from the University of Cranfield for his work in the food industry.
Haskins now spends most of his time actively chairing the Open University Council and farming his 800-acre arable plot in Skidby, east Yorkshire.
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