A Skipton firm which gives food safety advice has been helped to expand thanks to Business Link North Yorkshire.

Verner Wheelock Associates, of Broughton Hall Business Park, has a list of clients which include food manufacturers, retailers and government departments.

The firm has also doubled its turnover and employees in the past two years. This follows increased focus on issues such as e.coli outbreaks to the use of GM ingredients.

Advice from Business Link personal business adviser Stuart Fuller has enabled the company to realise its full potential, by putting greater emphasis on the consultancy side of its operation.

Founded ten years ago by Professor Verner Wheelock - an international authority on food policy and safety - the company now employs 12 people in Skipton and recently opened offices in Dublin and Belfast.

Already established as a leading provider of food safety training, particularly the Hazard Analysis and Critical Contact Point systems, the company is increasingly being called upon by manufacturers and retailers to advise on issues such as the use of antibiotics as growth in animal production, organic standards and the health implications of salt in food.

Stuart Fuller pointed out: "Having met with Verner and his colleagues, it became clear that while training would remain a constant and important aspect of the business, the consultancy side offered excellent prospects for growth.

"After a number of brain-storming sessions, we developed a fresh approach and plan for sales and marketing, which would support business development both in the UK and overseas.

"This involved analysis of the existing customer base, identification of prospects and targeting of different segments of the market and looking afresh at the company's image and the way it promoted itself."

The company also received help and advice from Business Link on export initiatives, the creation of a website and how to redesign of its information leaflets.

Adele Adams, senior food safety consultant at Verner Wheelock Associates, said: "The independent help and advice given by Stuart has proved invaluable in enabling us to both develop and re-position the business.

"Clients and prospective clients no longer think of us primarily as a training organisation and are aware of the full range of expertise and services that we provide."

For information contact the Business Link Information Centre on (01904) 686000.

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