She is Lizzie Lack, who is financing manager for ITW Food Equipment Group's Leasing & Finance division.
She said: “I wanted to improve my knowledge and understanding of the wider foodservice industry, so I took CFSP to support my development and progress.
“When the study guide arrived I was a little taken aback at the vast amount of information it contained. I wasn't prepared for how varied the content would be, but it gave me such a great sense of achievement when I heard that I had passed.”
Paul Anderson, chair of FEA, added: “We are hugely proud of all the graduates who have taken the CFSP course. It's a tough ask, and a real achievement for each and every one of them.
“The fact that over 700 professionals can now add CFSP after their name is a testament to the programme's success - as the momentum gathers, here's to reaching 1,000.”
In addition to the UK, Ireland and Dubai, the CFSP qualification has been exported to countries around the world. The FEA estimates that thousands of people worldwide are now CFSP certified.
Forthcoming courses are due to be held this year in the UK, Dubai and Sweden.
One of the key attractions of the CFSP initiative is that it's designed for anyone involved in foodservice - operators, dealers, manufacturers, designers and consultants.
Lizzie adds: “I recommend the CFSP programme, whether you're new to foodservice or have been in it for years. It gives an excellent overview of the industry, kitchen design, sustainability and more. It's an invaluable training course.”
CFSP involves at-home study, based on the course's training guide, ‘Introduction to Foodservice,' followed by a day-long seminar and an exam. It costs £1,050 plus VAT (discounted to just £660 + VAT for FEA and FCSI members). The next UK seminar takes place in December 2023 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
For more information email Jocelyn Shawyer of FEA at: jocelyn.shawyer@fea.org.uk.