A number of BFBi members, based in the London & South East region of the country met at Sambrooks Brewery early October to discuss the benefits of reforming a Section Committee, with a view to organising a range of events in the area.
The Section has been renamed London & South East (L&SE) and will be providing a number of sub-regional, informal knowledge delivery and social events through 2024 aimed at the brewing, distilling, wine and cider industries.
Committee membership includes Richard Atkinson, Konvoy Kegs, Darren Ensor, Christeyns, Jim Rankin, Rankin Brothers & Sons, Frank Ryan, CO2 Gas Company.
Jim Campbell, Donaldson Filtration has taken the role of Section Chairman. Jim started his working life as a Coppersmith, completing his apprenticeship in ship-repair followed by a few years in shipbuilding, before returning to education to study Mechanical Engineering. He then worked as a Production Engineer before starting his career in filtration, where he has worked for the last 35 years in several leading (and some other) filter companies, mostly in Food & Beverage as a Sales Engineer/Manager and latterly as an Application Engineer (aka “Filter Geek”) for Donaldson Filtration. Donaldson is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of excellent Process Filtration solutions to the F&B and Life Science industries (which Jim immodestly describes as “the best job in the world working with the best team in the world for the best filter company in the world”!).
In his spare time Jim is an avid supporter of his home city team Portsmouth FC, supporting them through thin and thin for most of the last 50 years, half of that as a season ticket holder. He also helps to run a small outreach charity that feeds and helps the homeless, marginalised and vulnerable in Portsmouth and Southsea, for which he (on behalf of the team that he leads) was awarded the British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II in Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee (and final) awards.
As well as agreeing on a programme of events in 2024, the Committee also agreed a social media campaign, promoting member companies within the region and how they bring their expertise to the supply chain, so look out for them.
Membership of BFBi spans the entire supply chain – from grain to glass – and, if you are looking for a product or service to support your company, use the Member Search facility on the website, ring +44 (0)1902 402303 or email info@bfbi.org.uk
