Baking entrepreneur David Powell has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship at the London South Bank University (LSBU). 

Powell himself graduated from the LSBU Bakery School in 1977 with a diploma in baking science. The school now has state-of-the-art facilities including a new demonstration bakery and is now offering a Masters in baking technology.

After graduating at the top of his year, Powell was granted freedom of the Company of Worshipful Bakers, an honour that paves the way to becoming a Freeman of the City of London.

He began his career in retail bakeries before joining a Belgian ingredients company and going on to work for well-known baker Piero Scacco as technical director. Following that, Powell began his own business named David Powell Bakeries, specialising in muffins. He secured contracts with major chains as well as supplying speciality breads and other products to companies including Waitrose, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.

Powell said: “The National Bakery School shaped my career, and there’s still an urgent need for the kind of education it provides, with that solid grounding in scientific principles. Of course, bakers need practical skills. But you’ve got to have that scientific knowledge if you want to keep innovating and moving forward.”

Earlier this month Powell received the Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry Award at British Baker’s Baking Industry Awards 2014 in recognition of his achievements.