A series of reforms were voted through unanimously by 160 dele-gates at the 77th annual bakery students conference in Blackpool last weekend.

The changes, including a new name and a new website, followed a strategic review led by outgoing president Paul Morrow.

What was known as the NFBSS/IBB Alliance has been renamed the Alliance for Bakery Students and Trainees, or the Alliance for short, to clarify its purpose to those outside the baking industry - particularly those who control the structure of training and the provision of future funds, Morrow told the AGM, held on 6 May.

Delegates at the conference, from nine colleges across the UK, also voted in favour of a new interactive website.

President-elect Simon Solway unveiled the plans for the site at [http://www.bakersintraining.org], due to launch in early June. It will become a communications hub for students, where they can post questions and messages, he explained.

As the meeting drew to its close, Unifine MD Simon Solway took over the chain of office from Morrow, and started his year’s term, with John Lindsay from BakeMark becoming president-elect.

Solway and competition sponsors then presented prizes, which were won in the previous day’s bakery competition.

The conference was attended by guests of honour the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool and the Master of the Worshipful Company of Bakers, Anthony Greenwood.