A director of Fosters Bakery has been awarded Yorkshire’s Young Director of the Year at a prestigious ceremony in Leeds. Michael Taylor from Fosters in Barnsley received the accolade at a gala evening at the Queens Hotel on Thursday 4 September, held by the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Directors (IoD).The award recognises his work and support of the bakery industry and also of local academic institutions. Taylor joined the board at Fosters Bakery in 2004 after running his own company in the North West of England for 12 years. He is also chairman of CenFRA (the Centre for Food Robotics and Automation) in Doncaster, and is also a governor of Barnsley College where he supervises two KTP schemes with Sheffield Hallam University.

“Michael impressed us with his relentless pursuit of knowledge and improved systems and his genuine concern for the employees and other stakeholders as well as himself,” said Denis Kaye, chairman of the judging panel for the Yorkshire and Humberside IoD Director of the Year Awards.

Taylor added: “I am delighted to receive such a prestigious honour. This award is also recognition of the fantastic contribution Fosters has made to the bakery industry over the years, so I would like to say a big thank you to managing director John Foster, who appointed me four years ago, and all my colleagues at the bakery.”

The awards are open to directors, partners and those of similar status, including LLPs and appropriate sole traders, and are designed to recognise the achievement of those in the region.