MDS Leavers Lunch & Award Ceremony – Spring 2025
We recently hosted the 2025 Leavers Lunch, where we bid farewell to the talented MDS Trainees of Group 53 as they embarked on the next stage of their careers.
Following the lunch was an Awards Ceremony, where we presented four prestigious MDS Award categories. It was a chance to recognise exceptional achievements, leadership qualities, and contributions of both Trainees and Member companies within the agri-food industry. The ceremony was also streamed on Zoom for those unable to attend in person.
Here’s a look at this year’s exceptional winners!
Rising Star Awards
The Rising Star Awards recognise exceptional Trainees who strive for success and consistently exceed expectations. These individuals have shown resilience, ambition, and remarkable potential, proving their value to Member companies.
Open to Trainees across all groups, the awards allow Secondment Managers to highlight the talent that significantly impacts their organisation and the wider industry. By celebrating these achievements, Member companies also promote a culture that values and nurtures talent, supporting future leaders in their career journeys.
This year, we selected five outstanding Trainees to receive the Rising Star Award:
Alex Kennedy – Alex quickly made a name for himself at Farplants, demonstrating natural leadership despite having little prior experience. He took charge of the Exceptions department, streamlining the returns process and helping to achieve a 14% increase in efficiency. His calm, collected approach and strong communication skills have strengthened team dynamics and boosted overall productivity.
Andrew Barnes – Andrew has shown exceptional leadership at Chemetall Limited, leading the development of a sustainability strategy and supporting major business transitions. His initiative and adaptability have been key to driving meaningful change, and his proactive approach continues to leave a lasting impact on the company.
Emily Brooks – Emily has shown outstanding leadership at Syngenta, driving innovative communication campaigns and playing a key role in AI platform development. Her skill in navigating diverse cultural landscapes and building strong customer relationships has made a tangible impact on business growth, establishing her as a leader of the future.
Rosie Dinnis – Rosie has excelled in managing a £30 million account, consistently exceeding expectations in one of the most demanding roles. Her talent for handling complex negotiations, securing high-value deals, and supporting her team showcases her exceptional commercial expertise and strong leadership potential.
Victoria Berry – Victoria took on the challenge of leading the Communications Marketing department during a crucial period, managing UK communications with initiative and dedication. From working closely with external agencies to shaping promotional strategies through data analysis, her contributions have made a meaningful impact on the team and overall business performance.
Special Mentions
In addition to our winners, we would like to recognise the following Trainees for their nominations. Their hard work, dedication, and impact within their organisations have not gone unnoticed, and we celebrate their achievements:
Anne Murrie
Jonathan Newman
Rachel Scarth
Sophie Williams
Tanya Peters
Congratulations to all nominees for their outstanding contributions!
Peter Shepherd Award
The Peter Shepherd Award recognises a company or individual who continually supports MDS and its Trainees. It celebrates those who are dedicated to a Trainee’s development and learning, offering coaching and mentorship to help them build a future in the sector.
This year’s award went to Moira Shepherd.
Moira was nominated by a Trainee who has experienced first-hand the incredible impact of her support and guidance. In their nomination, they described Moira as someone who “goes the extra mile every day,” providing regular check-ins, detailed explanations, and hands-on mentorship. They spoke about how she dedicates time each week to discussing development goals, reviewing projects, and checking on staff wellbeing.
As they put it:
“Taking time every week to do a wellbeing check has been greatly appreciated. It is clear she cares and understands my development needs and the aims of the MDS programme. This hasn’t always been the case in previous secondments, so I believe Moira should be recognised for going above her responsibilities.”
It’s clear that Moira doesn’t just support Trainees – she empowers them. Her dedication ensures that those she mentors not only gain the skills they need to succeed but also feel valued and encouraged every step of the way.
David Bagshaw Award
The David Bagshaw Award recognises outstanding performance in professional training, celebrating Trainees who have shown exceptional dedication and achievement in their leadership and management development. This award highlights a key aspect of the MDS programme – training and development.
This prestigious award, presented by The Apprenticeship College, has been awarded to Tanya Peters.
The Apprenticeship College said:
“Throughout her journey, Tanya has faced challenges, embraced every opportunity and continually strived for excellence. Whether it was through her innovated thinking, leadership or just her general knowledge of the impact she has on those around her, her contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary. Some of her most defining qualities are her genuine kindness and compassion. She has demonstrated hard work and dedication throughout, and has given 100% to every single piece of work she has done. This honour is a testament to her hard work, pure determination and grit.”
Doug Henderson Award
The Doug Henderson Award recognises a Trainee who has consistently demonstrated excellence in their secondments, exceeding expectations and taking on additional responsibilities. It celebrates outstanding performance, leadership qualities, personal achievements, team contributions, and impact within a Member company.
For the first time in MDS history, we awarded the David Bagshaw award and the Doug Henderson award to the same Trainee… congratulations, Tanya Peters!
Tanya has been awarded the Doug Henderson Award for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact throughout the MDS programme. She consistently goes above and beyond, taking on extra responsibilities with enthusiasm and adaptability. Her drive to learn, innovate, and support those around her has made a real difference to every team she’s been part of. Tanya’s ability to mentor, collaborate, and lead by example has left a lasting impression, making her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
Closing Remarks
The Leavers Lunch and Awards Ceremony was a wonderful celebration of Group 53’s Trainees and their remarkable achievements.
We are excited to see the lasting impact they will make on the industry in the years ahead, and we wish them every success in their future endeavours.
