In a landmark year for the HFMA, 2015 saw the introduction of the Association’s funding of 50 new applicants to the Health Food Institute (HFI) Professional Diploma Course. This initiative represented one stream within a wider year-long collection of activities, all in celebration and recognition of the Associations’ 50th anniversary (1965-2015).
The HFI has a strong reputation for providing quality training for the UK health food industry, and its Professional Diploma Course gives health food professionals the fundamental knowledge and training required to operate, and contribute to the operation of, the modern health store.
Uptake on the HFMA funded HFI Diploma Course places has been immediate, with all 50 spaces swiftly filled by candidates seeking to expand their knowledge of the industry. HFI Chair, John Frisby, said: “We are delighted with the response we have had following the HFMA’s sponsorship of 50 candidates entering our Professional Diploma Course. Over the past few months, we have seen a stunning 35 different stores take on at least one of the 50 candidates. We have also seen some fantastic results, with the majority scoring marks at the higher end of 80 percent. The HFI has always had a strong alignment and connection with the HFMA, and we look forward to a positive ongoing relationship with the Association.”
Following the success of the initiative, the HFMA is continuing this investment in training within the industry by announcing a new partnership with long-standing HFI supporter, LanesHealth, to jointly fund a new legacy initiative, the ‘HFMA/Roger Lane Scholarship’.
The HFMA says the new scholarship will be “awarded annually and recognises Roger Lane’s passionate commitment to the natural products industry, as well as the importance of well trained and knowledgeable retailers”. This support is in addition to the Association’s existing ongoing commitment to sponsor two of the HFI’s key annual training awards, the Jimmy Lee-Richardson Diploma and Continual Professional Development awards.
Graham Keen, Executive Director of the HFMA, said: ‘I recall with great affection my time as a colleague of Roger on the HFMA Council, and I know what a force of nature he truly was. He would be thrilled to know about this initiative and I can’t think of a finer person to give his name to this great HFMA 50th Anniversary legacy initiative.’
Picture: Graham Keen, Executive Director of the HFMA with Claire Hindmarch, one of the 50 sponsored training participants
