Sheffield Hallam University students and staff have been successful at the Food & Drink Federation (FDF) awards, the North East National Apprenticeship Awards and the UK Packaging Awards

Press contact: Emma Griffiths | e.griffiths@shu.ac.uk 

Niall Burns, a packaging and design degree apprentice at Hallam, received the award which recognised his contribution to reducing the carbon footprint of Premier Foods and leading on major sustainability projects. 

Niall is part of the first cohort of packaging professional degree apprentices at Hallam and joined Premier Foods in 2019 as the company’s first ever packaging development apprentice.  

So far during his time at Premier Foods, he has been involved in creating a fully recyclable film for Paxo packaging and led a project to create recyclable packaging for Batchelors Pasta ‘n’ Sauce with both projects having many sustainable and environmental advantages.  

On winning the award, Niall said: "It is an honour to be recognised in such a way for the work I have done. I would like to thank Sheffield Hallam University and Premier Foods for supporting me so well, I would not be where I am today without it." 

The FDF Awards are held annually, recognising and rewarding excellence for innovation, competitiveness and talent in the food and drink industry.  

The Apprentice of the Year award recognises those that have shown exceptional progress in both their skills development and studies or have made an exceptional contribution to the business through a one-off project.

BSC Professional Packaging student Francesca Hume was also awarded the Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year award at the North East National Apprenticeship Awards.  

On winning the award, Francesca said: “I’m delighted to have been awarded Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year in the North East region of the National Apprenticeship Awards. Undertaking the Packaging Professional degree apprenticeship has provided endless opportunities, combining working at GSK with learning at Sheffield Hallam University - where I’ve been well supported on my educational journey.” 

Peter Macqueen, Course Leader of the Packaging Professional Higher Degree Apprenticeship, said: “Everyone involved with the Packaging Professional course is tremendously proud of student wins at both the FDF Awards and the NENA Awards. 

"As the UK’s only undergraduate degree program focused on the packaging supply chain, it’s fantastic to see the significant impact our apprentices are making both in their personal development and within their workplaces.” 

Sheffield Hallam was also successful at the UK Packaging Awards 2023, with Niall Burns being highly commended for the Rising Star Award.  

The Design Futures Packaging team were also successful at the awards, the team won the Corrugated: Online Retail and Consumer Goods award for their TruPig Vegan Pack and were highly commended for Design Team of the Year.