Champion pie producer named chair of manufacturing group
ROGER Topping – founder and managing director of The Topping Pie Company – has been appointed as the first chairman of the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing Focus Group.
Mr Topping will be supported in the role by Ian Wells, of Wells Protective Coatings, who has been appointed vice chair.
The focus group is designed to provide a forum where key stakeholders from the manufacturing industry can work collaboratively for the benefit of Doncaster businesses and their employees.
It will also aim to improve communication between various manufacturing-related businesses in Doncaster to ensure a consistent sector agenda and to provide a channel for local businesses to lobby on manufacturing issues at local, regional and national level to maximise the contribution of the sector to the Doncaster economy.
Mr Topping said: “I am passionate about manufacturing and proud to be invited to be chairman of the first manufacturing focus group for my home town. It is my job to ensure the group remains focused on our agreed objectives and to act as ambassador for Doncaster’s manufacturing agenda. There are a number of issues facing the manufacturing sector, including skills shortages and the perception that it is a dying industry. The group is ideally placed to tackle some of these and many more issues.”
Daniel Fell, head of policy at Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise said on the appointment: “I am delighted that Roger has been appointed to this role. South Yorkshire is very much a beacon for manufacturing and having someone as passionate as Roger banging the drum for Doncaster is a real bonus.”
Mr Topping started his career in his father’s butcher’s shop in Doncaster Market more than 30 years ago and went on to establish the Topping Pie Company as one of the most successful gourmet meat pie companies in England.
