Scottish Bakers, a member organisation supporting the bakery trade throughout Scotland has announced the programme for its annual conference and awards, taking place on the 5-6 May at the Hilton in Glasgow and promising to tackle key issues affecting the sector today.
Scottish Bakers President and Director of McGhees Bakery, Ian McGhee, will focus his speech on the resilience and creativity of the sector which has endured one of its toughest trading years in memory, related to soaring energy and commodity costs in the wake of recovering from the pandemic. Ian will reflect on the work he has been involved in throughout his first year to support the trade.
Delegates will also hear from Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing, Economy, Fair Work and Energy as he delivers a keynote address to conference taking questions.
A discussion on employment law, wellbeing and recruitment will see a panel of professionals shine a light on vital business practises helping delegates to find new ways to support their people, get the best from them and reward their efforts.
This will be followed a baker-led debate on how bakers large and small can benefit from the provision of training, more specifically apprenticeships, as a means of recruiting and retaining valuable staff and improving productivity and efficiency, reducing waste and saving money.
The conference will then hear from Matthew Bond, Creative Director of Project D, as the business, first established in 2018, was the first ever recipient of the Online Bakery Business of the Year Award at the 2022 BIA ceremony.
Matthew will tell attendees about their growth plans over the next 24 months and how moving away from mainstream ‘bricks and mortar’ sites during the height of the Covid pandemic helped pivot the business to online sales which now account for 20% of the company’s sales.
The follow up sessions on how new outlets, customers or ways of reaching existing customers can bring business benefit along with a focus on trends and innovations completes the day before hearing from reigning Scottish Baker of the Year champions, Paddy and Jane from The Three Little Bakers.
Saturday evening of the event will see the Scottish Bakers crown the 2023/2024 Scottish Baker of the Year.
“The programme for 2023 is full of content that reflects the positive outlook of a sector keen for continued growth against a backdrop of ongoing challenges,” said Ian McGhee, President of the Scottish Bakers. “I would like to thank the team at Bakers House, and particularly our outgoing Chief Executive Alasdair Smith, for curating what promises to be a thought provoking and intensely interesting weekend for our industry.”
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