Peter Benson-Skailes – Interim Technical Manager
Mobile: 07852 994930; Email: peterbenson-skailes@outlook.com Web: www.peterbenson.com
STATUS
Married; British; Born 1972; Full Driving Licence; Location Suffolk.
PROFILE
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A graduate with an upper second class honours degree in Food Quality Management in 1997. A professional interim
working successfully with all retailers.
I have strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills to drive technical change / technical consistency to fulfil
food safety standards and meet business KPI’s.
Expert in communication, motivation, empowerment and people skills.
Core skills - Implementing HACCP, Designing Quality Management Systems, Pre-Audit Gap Analysis; Hygiene, Process
Control, Business Efficiency (LEAN, TQM), Process Engineering, Recruitment, KPI’s, Presentations, Factory Design,
Allergen Management, Recruitment.
Fast Long Term Results; Dedicated; Cool-headed; Proactive; Energetic; Systematic; Disciplined; Good Humoured;
Modest; Direct; Coacher and Developer of People; Desire to Succeed; Effective Customer Interfacing Skills.
CAREER
Dec 2015 – Feb 2016 – 2 Sisters Ltd, Thetford – RTC breaded chicken – M&S, JS.
Jul 2015 – Dec 2015 – Harvey & Brockless Ltd, London – sauce, hummus, olives – Pret a Manger, Nandos.
Mar 2015 – Jul 2015 – Donatantonio Ltd, Borehamwood – ambient italian produce; olive oil – Tesco, Morrisons.
Dec 2014 – Mar 2015 – Orchard House Food / Paradise Foods, Gateshead – chilled sliced fruit – JS, Tesco
Aug 2014 – Dec 2014 – RM Curtis & Co Ltd, Halstead – ambient nuts, dried fruit, seeds – Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, Brakes
May 2014 – Aug 2014 – Taiko Foods, Acton – sushi and dim-sum / dumplings – Waitrose, JS, Pret, Costco
Jan 2014 – May 2014 – Halo Raisio Group, Newport – cereal / fortified sports bars Aldi, Slimming World, Morrisons
Oct 2013 – Jan 2014 – Faccenda Group, Telford and Dudley – Asda chilled chicken (Nandos, Lidl, Aldi)
May 2013 – Oct 2013 – Bakkavor Wingland Food, Sutton Bridge – Waitrose chilled salads / added value / deli
Feb 2013 – May 2013 – Greencore Prepared Meals, Bristol – Soups, Sauces – JS, Asda, Co-Op
Sep 2012 – Feb 2013 – Bernard Matthews, Holton – Chilled turkey – M&S, Tesco, Morrisons, JS, Lidl
Apr 2012 – Sep 2012 – Lantmannen Unibake, Bedford – Frozen patisserie – M&S, Tesco, JS, Morrisons, Asda, Woolworths
Feb 2012 – Apr 2012 – Natures Way Foods Ltd, Runcton – Bagged salad, fruit – Tesco, Mc Donalds, M&S, Asda
Dec 2011 – Feb 2012 – 2 Sisters, Thetford – Battered chicken – Tesco, M&S, JS, Morrisons
Jun 2011 – Dec 2011 – 2 Sisters, Haughley Park – Chilled chicken – M&S, JS, Morrisons, Lidl, Budgens, Aldi
Apr 2010 – Jun 2011 – Noon Kerry, Southall – Indian ready meals – M&S, JS
Nov 2009 – Apr 2010 – Cheese Cellar, Battersea – Cheese, cured meat, catering products – Selfridges, BA, Pret, Eurostar
Aug 2009 – Nov 2009 – Maison Blanc, Park Royal – Cakes, croissants, patisserie – Waitrose, Starbucks, Brakes
Jan 2009 – Aug 2009 – Noon Kerry, Southall – Indian ready meals - M&S, Morrisons
Apr 2008 – Jan 2009 – Bakkavor Tilmanstone Salads, Deal – Chilled salads / added value / deli – M&S, Spar
Nov 2007 – Mar 2008 – Bakkavor Freshcook, Holbeach – Chilled ready meals – M&S,
Aug 2007 – Nov 2007 – Princes Foods, Chichester – Ready meals, cans, pates / fish paste – Tesco, M&S, Waitrose
May 2007 – Aug 2007 – Watton Produce, Watton – Carrots, parsnips, dips, herbs – JS, Tesco, M&S, Waitrose, Boots
Aug 2006 – May 2007 – Tulip Danepak, Thetford – Bacon, added value pork, Spam – M&S, Tesco, Waitrose
Jun 2006 – July 2006 – Ethnic Cuisine, Swansea – Ready meals – JS, Somerfield, Asda
May 2006 – Jun 2006 – H&B / Cheese Cellar, Battersea - Cheese, cured meat, catering products – Selfridges, BA, Pret, Eurostar
Dec 2005 – May 2006 – RHM, Reading – Dry ingredients, jams, jellies – Tesco, 3663, Brakes, JS
Aug 2005 – Nov 2005 – Pro-Pak, Malton – Ready meals, Quorn, meat – JS, Iceland
May 2005 – Aug 2005 – Greencore Sandwiches, Park Royal – Sandwiches – JS, Sutherland, catering
Dec 2004 – Apr 2005 – Heinz Sandwiches, Luton – Sandwiches – M&S, Heinz
Jun 2004 – Sep 2004 – Rensow / Gu Puds, Walthamstow – Desserts, patisserie, Gu – JS, Waitrose, Boots, Tesco, BA
May 2003 – Jun 2004 – G’s Marketing, Ely – Bagged salads – M&S, JS, Safeway
Sep 2002 – May 2003 – Richmond Icecream, Bude – Icecream – M&S, Duchy, JS
Feb 2002 – Aug 2002 – Foodhouse, Holloway Rd – Italian produce / ready meals – Pizza Express, Harvey Nicholls, Selfridges
Aug 2001 – Feb 2002 – Roberts Yorkshire Kitchen, Huddersfield – Frozen puds, cheesecakes – JS, Safeway, Asda
May 2001 – Aug 2001 – Richmond Icecream, Northallerton – Icecream - Tesco, Asda, JS
Jun 2000 – 10 month career break – instructor for windsurfing, sailing, kayaking in Solent, Turkey, Barbados, Antigua.
Jun 1999 – Jun 2000 – Morehands, Erith – Sauces, Frylight, Saladlight – JS, Tesco, Asda
Peter Benson-Skailes – Interim Technical Manager
Mobile: 07852 994930; Email: peterbenson-skailes@outlook.com Web: www.peterbenson.com
Nov 1997 – Jun 1999 – Weetabix, Hastings – Cereals – JS, Aldi, Asda
1995-1996 – M&S Head Office, Baker St – Placement year 3 during BSc – Product development technologist – fresh meat and
meat products
Pre- 1993 – Casual Work included – Shop Assistant in Pharmacy, Bar Work, Hotel Kitchen Porter, Hospital KP, Store Assistant.
PROJECTS
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Unannounced M&S Food Integrity Audit Feb 2016 – Bronze.
Provided customer confidence and trust during extensive building work / factory redesign.
Profit improvement projects – micro testing; hygiene PPE; dept restructure; plastic liners.
Cost savings after re-negotiating contracts e.g. pest control, hygiene, engineering, calibration, validation, micro.
GMP and hygiene expertise to resolve problem factories with successful audits to regain customer trust.
Developed processes to improve strip-down cleaning whilst optimising production speeds e.g. new turbo pumps.
Implemented HACCP to simplify CCP’s to save implementation of unnecessary equipment and improve food safety.
Successful audits – M&S Food Integrity Audit Feb 2016 2 majors / 5 minors Bronze; PPC red-red to bronze-bronze; PPC
red-amber to gold-silver in 4 months; Tesco PIU achieved green and blue ratings; Supplier approval audits completed for
Morrisons in UK and abroad; RQA audit 81%; SQMS 96%.
Audits in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain to ensure supplier assurance standards achieved.
Worked with Field to Fork standards to launch “grow your own herbs and salads” after redesigning process.
Recruitment and team strengthening for longer term objectives with structure clearly defined.
Successful cover during illness and maternity with smooth integration once managers have returned.
BRC audit preparation with successful a-grade achieved in 20+ audits some in 2 weeks.
Numerous Listeria investigations leading to successful micro results in 4 weeks with products reinstated.
Ice cream development work in pilot plant leading to successful product launches.
Worked closely with EHO’s to re-negotiate product shelf life and achieve the 10-day rule.
Worked on Gap analysis projects to redefine priorities and meet customer objectives.
Projects to implement allergen risk assessments for M&S, Tesco and Morrisons.
Worked in purchasing and also as General Manager.
Redundancy projects and restructuring – support for teams during transition; QC to QA etc.
Experience at M&S head office working in meat department – developed and launched M&S Extra Lean Pork Sausage.
Written and implemented numerous successful Quality Management Systems.
SKILLS
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Strengths in coaching and culture change as a hands-on manager. Proactive support and problem-solving skills for all
parts of business. Adaptive to all factories with proven track record.
Successful Interim Technical Manager since 2004 with 34+ successful interim contracts.
Improved efficiency of start-up checks, cost savings in prioritised equipment repairs, reduced risks of foreign bodies,
reduced complaints, improved process control, with easy to follow photo procedures.
Factory-based coaching - Fast culture change working with operations at all levels, developing relationships, teamwork,
coaching on GMP, working with engineering and hygiene to gain successful customer audit feedback.
Managed 10+ BRC audits (unannounced and announced) at factories with varying status, to obtain Higher Level or AGrade (2 minors to 7 minors). Managed successful M&S PPC audits to Green-Green status from Red-Red and RedAmber status also Red-Red to Bronze-Bronze against new PPC protocol. Also Tesco PIU audits, Waitrose Point of
Difference Audit and Morrisons audits (recent green status on 2011 protocol and approval audit for Italian factory 2015).
M&S Hygiene Audits. Numerous other customer audits and various product launches.
Professional approach to ensure business compliance for: Food Safety, HACCP, Trading Standards, Environmental
Health, Customer visits, Product Launches, Crisis management, Product Recall, Hygiene audits, Benchmarking, KPI’s.
Active reduction of costs for audits, pest control, factory design / relocation / extensions, hygiene improvements e.g.
Listeria reduction, recruitment, team structure, process control, allergen management, foreign body controls.
Rapid support on recruitment - during maternity leave, redundancy, consultation periods, performance management,
bereavement, illness, and awkward political situations.
Developed confident relationships with M&S – Sue Bell, Nigel Pattenden, Ian Abbotts, Vivien Maitland, Judith
Humberstone, Vanessa Johnstone, Nic Martin, Yvette Sowerby, Catherine Sansom, Liam Doyle, Jenny Hopwood, Gary
Pepler, Declan Curry, Jacqueline Ross, Rachel Cox, Kate Stein, Julia Temple. JS – Sandrine Chiron, Lee Dalton, David
Peter Benson-Skailes – Interim Technical Manager
Mobile: 07852 994930; Email: peterbenson-skailes@outlook.com Web: www.peterbenson.com
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Moore, Steven Thompson. Tesco – Emily Watts, Jenny Magness, Jessica Acton. Waitrose – Caroline Mason, Alan
Wilson, Gaynor Stokes, Cheryl White, Alison Gardner, Rachel Warby; Also Asda and Morrisons. Pret a Manger –
Charlotte Brimberg, Anita Kinsey. 3663 – Jonathan Wright; Brakes – Kate Gough.
Extensive contacts within the food industry – Auditors – NSF, Bureau Veritas, FSC, Connaught, EFSIS, SAI Global, CMI;
Supplier & Manufacturing; Recruitment Consultants / Agencies; Interims; CI Managers; Engineering Suppliers; Hygiene
Companies – Ecolab, Holchem, Johnson Diversey; Training; Metal Detection; Process Control – Chilling, Depositing,
Weight Control, Calibration; Pest Control – Rentokil, Ecolab, Igrox, etc.
TRAINING
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BSc (Hons) Food Quality Management - Upper Second Class – Microbiology, Operational Systems, HACCP, Business
Accounting, Personnel Management & Psychology, Process Technologies, Quality Systems, Nutrition & Health, Hygiene,
Engineering, Catering & Hygiene, Product Development. Awarded Unilever Product Development Prize. Course
Representative for 2 Years.
Trained Lead Assessor.
Line Manager Training (In-House Weetabix).
Basic & Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificates.
HACCP Analysis Training and Implementation (Campden & Chorleywood).
EDUCATION
1993 - 1997 Bournemouth University, Dorset - BSc (Hons) Food Quality - Upper Second Class. Awarded Unilever Product
Development Prize; Course Representative for 2 Years.
1992 - 1993 West Kent College, Kent - A Levels - Chemistry; Physics; Biology.
1983 - 1989 William Parker School, E. Sussex - 9 GCSE’s.
INTERESTS
Rowing (England Rowing Coach 2009 & Internationals in Cork 2014) and Ergo Rowing, Running, Skiing, Walking, Eating Out &
Socialising, Yachting (RYA Yachtmaster Offshore), Sunsail Flotilla Skipper 2000, Windsurfing (RYA Instructor 2000), Gardening,
Reading.
REFERENCES
Available on request.