William Sanderson

What is your current role? When did you join your company?

I work as Group Health and Safety Coordinator. I’ve been with Cranswick since June 2022.

What is your degree? Where did you study?

I studied at Leeds Beckett University from 2019-2022. My degree was BSc (Hons) Safety, Health and Environmental Management.

When do you first become interested in Health and Safety and the food industry?

My interest in Health and Safety (H&S) started when I was at college. My Dad was studying for one of his National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) courses and needed some support to revise for his exams. I spent some time reading the modules and I found it interesting. I further researched into H&S, such as career prospects and job roles around my area. This is when I first found it to be a viable career opportunity for me. I then researched pathways to get into H&S and found the university course at Leeds Beckett, which I then applied to and took.

The university course mainly covered H&S across a broad range of industries, but also environmental modules. One of the environmental modules focused on Food Science which I found interesting. It largely covered the technical aspects of food safety, however I did enjoy the module. When I finished university, I identified the food and drink manufacturing industry as one of the industries I would most like to work in. It’s fast paced where two days are never the same, which is what I was looking for.

Did you have a particular teacher that inspired you to go into food science? What was their name and what was the school?

I didn’t have a particular teacher who inspired me to go into food science. I just found it an interesting industry.

Did you have a career goal in mind when you applied for University?

I’ve always wanted a career where I could continue to learn and progress. I think H&S is the perfect career for this. When I first applied for university I didn’t know where I’d like to end up, I just wanted to gather the knowledge required to set up a successful career.

What made you apply to your company after graduation?

In my final year of university I came across a H&S role for Cranswick. This job piqued my interest as it combined my passion and learning in H&S alongside my interest of working in the food manufacturing industry.

What does your job involve?  Is it fun, interesting?

I work for one of the largest food manufacturers in the UK. Our products are sold across all the largest retailers. My job involves ensuring that our 20+ manufacturing sites are compliant with both internal and external H&S standards. My role is interesting. Every day is different from the last, which suits me and is what I was looking for. In a group role, I support our sites by creating and sharing procedures, guidance and best practices with our sites. I also internally audit our sites which allows me to see the best innovations and solutions across the business which I can share with all our other sites. I often travel across the UK to visit our various sites, this allows me to meet new people and work alongside different personalities which enables me to continually learn and develop.

What are your long-term career plans?

I’m a highly motivated and an ambitious individual. My long-term career plan is to continue developing my skills and expertise in H&S while taking on increasing levels of responsibility. I hope to grow into a leadership role where I can contribute to strategic decision-making. I’m particularly excited about the opportunities in the food manufacturing industry. It’s an industry I see myself working in for my whole career.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about Food Science/ food industry as a career?

A career in food industry is exciting and rewarding. It’s a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. There’s plenty of opportunities to learn, develop and progress. You can move across the business into different departments and find what’s right for you. I entered the company as a graduate and was given a lot of support to develop personally and professionally. If you’re a highly motivated individual, I couldn’t recommend the food industry enough.