Louise Craven
Technical Manager
Greggs
Louise Craven is very proud to have worked in the 'Baking Industry' for 46 years. She is even more than proud to say that she started at the bottom and gradually climbed the career ladder. She has also gone backwards and forwards across the Pennines many times.
Starting work in a small family bakery, Louise went on day release and three nights per week to Bradford Technical College to study for the City and Guilds of London Institute, Bakery Qualifications. Following successful results, she found herself at the crossroads of her career. Interested in Chemistry, microbiology and hygiene and business studies she decided to go down the Technical Path and went full time to Blackpool Technical College to study for her OND and HND, and then to Salford College for Statistics and Cocoa, Chocolate and Sugar Confectionery Manufacture. (What a strange assortment)!
Back to Yorkshire to work in Halifax in the Chocolate/Sugar confectionery and Biscuit Industries and spent 2 years in Research and Development but decided that the Baking Industry was for her. So back to Lancashire! She started work @ Warburton's or 'Warbies' as we affectionally known it in the industry, and spent 6 years there.
Starting at the Bread Bakery, on QA then moving to Retail QA and to Fruit Malt Bread Manufacture, Louise enjoyed that time and learned such a lot. She was then promoted to QA and Product Development Manager in the Confectionery Bakery. Louise was then offered a position @ Goldrei Foucard in Liverpool; this was really 'Trouble Shooting' and 'Product Development' and involved a great deal of travelling, around the UK and Ireland, it was exceptionally good experience.Louise returned to Yorkshire, she married and started technical teaching at Salford, Bradford and Ilkley and Thomas Danby College in Leeds. As well as teaching practical classes, B Tech qualifications, Food Hygiene and other relevant bakery qualifications Louise taught adults with Special Educational Needs and Behavioural Problems. This was a very enjoyable and a very rewarding time.
Then to Thurston's, (part of the Gregg's empire) Louise commenced her employment in 1992 as QA Manager, then to Technical Manager as the division grew. Thurston's had 74 shops in 1992, (now 150) she has spent 16 years based at the bakery in Leeds and has seen many changes not just in Gregg's but in the 'Baking Industry 'as a whole. She has also been involved with group projects.
The whole area of Environmental change has meant looking seriously at 'Waste Management' recycling and social responsibility.
It is important that we adjust to 'climate change' Recycling is very important and diverting materials from landfill.
After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1980, 'life changes' had to be made!
Louise successfully managed the disease until 2005 when a serious relapse occurred. That meant 'work life changes' now working just two days per week, the change of responsibilities has also occurred from Technical Manager to Profit Improvement Manager. Always being interested in cost negotiations and cost reduction, she sees this challenge as a good way to end her working career.
Louise has one son Darren and a 2 year old granddaughter Emilie. She is Chair of Governors at a local primary school and enjoys holidays in the Canaries with close friends and family.
