Experience

DOVECOTE PARK LTD

• United Kingdom
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Specification Coordinator

  • Apr 2016 - Present



Braehead Foods Ltd

• United Kingdom
• Food and Beverage Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Food Technologist

  • Aug 2014 - Mar 2016

  Modifies existing products and processes and develops new ones. Analyses quality control procedures in internal and external factories. Monitors current consumer markets and latest technology to develop new product concept and manages the safety, legality and quality of food produced. Analyses cost of ingredients, labour, packaging, transport etc to calculate production costs of new products Selects raw materials and other ingredients from suppliers; prepares product costing based on raw materials and manufacturing costs to ensure profitability. Reviews end-to-end supply chains; compiles / checks / approves product specifications and labeling. Addresses and resolves any issues on safety, and quality. Audits suppliers as well as manages internal audits of factory systems and protocols. Liaise with suppliers on quality issues and new product ideas. Aids in implementing and reviewing site quality management system. Aids in preparation for site audits. Coordinates new products launch and/or trial runs with product development. Carries out process support and development, new product development and quality control. Deals with any customer complaint investigations or product issues. Maintains consistency with repeat processes to ensure consistency and safety; liaises and cooperates with technical and commercial colleagues in procurement, sales and technical services, and marketing and distribution, as well as with official food inspection and hygiene agencies. Liaise with engineering/production to develop solutions to issues whilst maintaining food safety. Undertakes long-term projects with other departments, e.g. reduces waste by improving efficiency; works on packaging innovation and technology; reviews food supply, security and sustainability. Carries out administration and devising policy for government departments. Implements enforcement roles in local authority environmental health departments.



Belcher Foods, part of the Brown's Food Group

• Junior Food Technologist

  • Dec 2013 - Aug 2014

  Involved in Launch Planner meetings; answers any queries brought forward by the launch team.Generates Recipe/Batch sheets based on the recipe given and BRC/customer requirements (e.g. document controlled, include temperature of brine etc.); which are then issued to the factory once approved by both Technical and NPD; Informs managers if recipe has changed or if it’s a new product launch. Works alongside NPD team, mostly gathering samples to be sent to an external lab (Ashwood) for microbiology, water content and/or nutritional analysis. Generates theoretical nutritional results (NutriCalc), for comparison to the lab resultsCollates QAS based on New Product Development samplesReviews information and results obtained from the aforementioned tasks and creates product specifications (using MS Office / Online Micros Specifications)Ensures that all information in the product specification meets current food legislation. Inspects product specification, artwork and packaging compliance against a checklist which contains all relevant food labeling legislationPlays an integral part in handover meetings before a product launch, which includes reviewing product files, photo standards and batch/recipe sheets with all staff involved in the product launch i.e. production/line managers, quality managers and PCOs to ensure all relevant staff is briefed on key aspects of the product. Responsible for accommodating customers during product launch, which normally entails going over the specification to make sure, both parts are happy with all the information. Ensures that the customer sees the factory process and be able to answer any queries they may have. Fully trained for internal audits i.e. BRC and from time to time, updates KPI, HACCP and raw material approved suppliers list.

• Quality Assurance

  • Nov 2012 - Dec 2013

  • Makes sure that products are within product specifications and guiding operatives with photo standards and general quality checks.• Monitors control points in a frozen food factory to ensure no products are contaminated with foreign bodies/metal as well as ensuring that microbial growth is prevented through timed checks on raw material, hourly checks on metal detectors and finished product package seals which requires knowledge of Hazard Analysis at Critical Control Points. • Other responsibilities include: species tests and allergen tests; probe and scale calibrations; multi-head weight checks; glass and plastic audits, GMP audits, black bag audits, Accupoint hygiene and environmental swabbing; gathering samples for microbial analysis and organoleptic assessments; proper completion of investigation forms i.e. foreign body, rejected metal, dispensation, non-conformance reports etc.; preparation, collection and verification of paperwork for all operatives on factory floor; making sure that managers, supervisors, engineers and operatives are aware if any non-conformances arise.• Occasionally covers QA supervisor role if and when required which also involves enforcing Good Manufacturing Practices amongst line operatives i.e. making sure that they follow our clean as you go policy, handwash/sanitizing policy and other regulations.



Glasgow Caledonian University

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Food Bioscience Student

  • Sep 2009 - Apr 2013

  BSc Food Bioscience 1st Year Cells and Biomolecules I&II Anatomy and Physiology Introduction to Chemistry Maths and Statistics 2nd Year Cellular Metabolism and Regulation Immunology Introduction to Microbiology Microbial World The Gene Physiology 3rd Year Analytical Chemistry Essential Molecular Biology Applied Microbiology Nutrition and Public Health Food Commodities Food Science BSc Food Bioscience 1st Year Cells and Biomolecules I&II Anatomy and Physiology Introduction to Chemistry Maths and Statistics 2nd Year Cellular Metabolism and Regulation Immunology Introduction to Microbiology Microbial World The Gene Physiology 3rd Year Analytical Chemistry Essential Molecular Biology Applied Microbiology Nutrition and Public Health Food Commodities Food Science