20 Years of Successful Training
VWA 20th Anniversary Lunch
Verner Wheelock Associates (VWA), was founded in 1990 so celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2010.
To launch its anniversary year, VWA held a celebration lunch on 29th April, to which leading food industry representatives travelled from all over the UK to join the celebrations at Yorkshire’s iconic Aagrah restaurant in Bradford, the city where VWA started. The guests of honour were the city’s Lord Mayor, Councillor John Godward,and Mrs Jean Godward, who were able to get a preview of VWA’s new on-line training courses.
Other guests included food industry clients and keynote speakers from the food industry, e-learning and funding sectors. The speakers were Verner Wheelock himself plus:
- John Howard, UK marketing director, Danish Agriculture and Food Council (a longstanding VWA client)
- Rod Knox, chief executive, Virtual College (VWA’s e-learning partner)
- Joanna Barthorpe (The Enhancement Fund)
“This a milestone year for us and we wanted to make sure that it got off to a memorable start. As well as sealing the success of the past 20 years, 2010 is the year that will also see VWA progressing its ambitious business plans for the future with the launch of its own online training courses; the first one being a Level 3 Food Safety course.”
The course was launched in a presentation by Rod Knox, of Virtual College, who enthused about the value of on-line training as well as providing information about the college’s Food, Drink and Hospitality e-academy.
Meanwhile John Howard focused on marketing in the food industry and how it has developed over the years with many changing influences on consumers such as the rise in fame of celebrity chefs. He also praised VWA and said how much he valued the services and support it provided.
Another speaker was Joanna Barthorpe from The Enhancement Fund 
who spoke about ‘Sustain and Train’ which is a Business Link training subsidy for manufacturing with staff working reduced hours in order to cope with the recession. She explained that the Enhancement Fund, for which VWA is an approved trainer, provides up to 60 per cent funding towards training for companies in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
On offer at the lunch were special 'one day only' discounts including 1990 prices being charged for the first three bookings received on the day and first to arrive to claim the discount for a colleague was Ferenc Varga, microbiology and hygiene manager at Nestlé in York.
Other lucky guests included Alison Whale, HR manager with Constar International UK Ltd in Leeds who booked herself on a HACCP course, and Anna Skirkowska, United Biscuits UK QA projects manager, based at McVities in Halifax, who claimed the discount for one of her staff.
A raffle was held on the day with prizes donated by clients and associates, including a star prize of a night at the Tempest Arms, one of VWA’s favourite training venues. In total, £260 was raised and this was split between two charities - The Lord Mayor’s Appeal and Yorkshire & Cleveland region of the Riding for the Disabled Association.
Photo: Verner Wheelock and daughter Kathryn presenting a cheque to Judy Olby from Y&C Riding for the Disabled
On leaving, all guests were presented with a VWA anniversary ‘goody’ bag – which included a 10% discount loyalty voucher, and more goodies donated by clients.
For more photos from the event please view the gallery
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