The 2025 MDS Awards: A Celebration of Success

On 16th June, during our Annual Conference at Eastwood Hall, we were proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Trainees and supporters at the annual MDS Awards Ceremony.

From rising talent making their mark early on, to individuals and organisations going above and beyond to support development, the awards highlight the best of the MDS community. This year’s ceremony stood out for a record number of nominations for both the Rising Star and Peter Shepherd awards – a testament to the dedication and talent across the programme.

Rising Star Awards 🌟

The Rising Star Award recognises Trainees who have shown exceptional promise during their secondments. This year, we received a record-breaking 17 nominations – with some Trainees nominated more than once – making it the most competitive year yet. The judging panel had a particularly difficult task, with such a strong and evenly split field. After careful consideration, five winners were selected.

Winners:

• Alfie Nicol
  Why they won: Alfie was nominated twice because of his impressive initiative and adaptability during his secondments. At Haith, he quickly earned the trust of the team and introduced improvements like a new stock coding system and better KPI reporting. At Chemetall BASF, Alfie adapted well to a new environment, delivered a marketing strategy focused on brand and sustainability, improved internal communications, and automated important tools. His professional, can-do attitude went beyond expectations and made a real difference to both teams.
• Anne Murrie
  Why they won: Anne really stood out for her proactive approach and strong leadership throughout her secondment. She built great relationships across teams and helped improve forecasting and performance. Her drive, sense of ownership, and flexibility left a lasting positive impact on both customer confidence and how the business runs internally.
• Ariana Davison
  Why they won: Ariana made an immediate impact by managing a complex category and delivering strong results in a busy retail setting. Her commercial insight, good supplier relationships, and market knowledge helped grow the category despite tough conditions. Her confident and collaborative style showed just what a first secondment can achieve.
• Lydia Whitehouse
  Why they won: Lydia brought energy, creativity and a strong work ethic to her secondment, quickly becoming a valued member of the team. She took ownership of digital comms, created new systems, and delivered standout social campaigns that gained global recognition. Her curiosity, drive and collaborative approach have made a lasting contribution to both the team and wider business.
• Sophie Williams
  Why they won: Sophie stood out for her intelligence, professionalism and natural leadership. She took ownership of complex projects, improved processes, and delivered high-quality content and event planning with creativity and care. Her proactive attitude, adaptability and team-first mindset made a lasting impact across both marketing and the wider business.

Also nominated:

We’d also like to recognise the following Trainees, who were nominated for their impact and outstanding potential during their secondments:

• Abbie Fowler
• Alec Woolner
• Amy Sanders
• Calum Williams
• Edward Mayell
• Elizabeth Harley
• George Hewetson
• Jamilla Mohammed
• Thomas Land
• Vineet Khattri

Peter Shepherd Award 🏆

The Peter Shepherd Award recognises a company or individual who continually supports MDS and its Trainees. It celebrates those who go above and beyond in their commitment to a Trainee’s development and learning – offering invaluable coaching, mentorship and encouragement to help them build a future in the industry.

This year saw more nominations for this award than ever before, reflecting the outstanding dedication shown across the programme.

Winner:

Holly Goodchild & Faye Lee – Frontier Agriculture

Why they won: Holly and Faye were recognised for their unwavering support and commitment to Trainee development. They created an environment that balanced challenge with encouragement, offering tailored opportunities, regular feedback, and valuable exposure to senior stakeholders. Alongside leading Frontier’s company rebrand, they remained fully engaged with the MDS programme – championing its values and ensuring their Trainee had the space to thrive. Their dedication and advocacy perfectly reflect the spirit of the Peter Shepherd Award.

Also nominated:

We received heartfelt nominations from Trainees for a number of individuals and organisations who make a real difference to the MDS experience through their ongoing support:

• Adam Houston – Lincolnshire Herbs
• Andrew Gemmill – Finsbury Food Group
• Dawn Wright – Protolan
• David Salisbury – Farplants Sales Ltd
• Global Communications Team – Syngenta
• Jonathan Snape – James Hutton Limited
• Laura Appleton – Vitacress Ltd
• Nathalia De Toledo Pinto – Chemetall
• Neill Finlayson, John Gray & Ionut Tirziu – Angus Soft Fruits
• Simon Lewis – Ethical Food Company
• Wayne Revell & Claire Tomlinson – Yorkshire Botanicals Limited

David Bagshaw Award 🎓

The David Bagshaw Award celebrates a Trainee who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to their professional development throughout the MDS apprenticeship. It recognises those who have gone above and beyond in their leadership and management training, showing real dedication to their growth.

This award is presented by The Apprenticeship College, who select the winner based on their progress, engagement and overall performance across the training programme.

Winner:

Ed Kendall

Why they won: Ed was recognised for going above and beyond throughout his programme, demonstrating exceptional dedication, humility, and commitment. His outstanding performance and the quality of evidence he submitted clearly highlighted his excellence and contribution. Known for being humble, conscientious, and consistently reliable, Ed has set a high standard for others to follow. His achievements are a testament to his hard work and unwavering professionalism.

Also nominated:

Congratulations also go to the following Trainees, whose dedication to their development was recognised by The Apprenticeship College:

• George Hewetson
• Matthew Jones
• Grace Walker
• Rachel Bullin
• Vineet Khattri

Doug Henderson Award 🥇

The Doug Henderson Award recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional performance, professionalism and impact throughout their time with MDS. This award reflects the all-round contribution a Trainee has made to the programme and the wider industry.

Winner:

Jamilla Mohammed

Why they won: Jamilla stood out for her exceptional initiative, leadership, and impact across multiple high-profile projects during her secondments. From leading a global Corporate Security campaign to delivering strategic internal communications, she consistently demonstrated professionalism, creativity, and resilience. Having won the Rising Star Award in 2024, she continued to impress this year with two further nominations – a clear reflection of her sustained excellence. Jamilla is also a fantastic ambassador for the MDS scheme, actively promoting its value at events, through digital platforms, and by supporting prospective and current Trainees. She truly embodies the values of the Doug Henderson Award through her dedication, innovation, and strong potential as a future leader in the industry.

Nominees:

We also want to acknowledge the following nominees for their impressive contributions and consistent excellence during their time with MDS:

• Calum Williams
• Christian Larocque
• Ed Kendall
• Emily Brooks
• Matthew Jones

Congratulations to all our winners and nominees! Your hard work and leadership are driving positive change across the food and supply chain industry.

We’d also like to thank everyone who took part by nominating, supporting and recognising the exceptional talent within the MDS community. Your contributions play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of industry professionals.

We look forward with great anticipation to seeing how these rising stars will continue to innovate and influence the sector in the years to come. Here’s to many more successes ahead!