Honeywell empowers SMEs, trains bakers

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc has restated its determination to continue to empower small businesses, describing them as the engine of growth of the economy.

The Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, who stated this on Friday, in Lagos, at the 34th Certificate Award Ceremony of the Honeywell Baking School, said Honeywell will continue to impact positively on the society through its laudable corporate social responsibility initiatives.

While listing empowering of bakers as part of efforts by the company to ensure the success of SMEs, he said Honeywell recognizes that Nigerian bakers need a broad mix of skills, noting that over a decade, the company has committed resources to the training of over 446 Master Bakers from different parts of the country in a total of 34 Regular Courses and One Executive Course.

Honeywell’s vision, according to him, “is driven by the understanding of the impacts small and medium scale businesses can have in our society as engines of job creations and enablers of wealth distributions of which the banking industry represents, being one of the largest SME in terms of number and size in the country.”

While explaining details of the training, he said, “the Honeywell Baking School is more than baking. It is a place where bakers from different cultures, groups, religions and regions meet to learn and share ideas of modern baking practices. Besides learning the chemistry of baking ingredients mix for great taste during bread production, bakers also learn strategy on how to make products available and visible on the shelf of retailers.

He urged the graduands to apply knowledge gained to distinguish themselves from the pack, saying, “The more you know, the smarter and faster you can go. That’s why we set up the Baking School to equip and empower bakers with modern baking skills by exploring the art, science and commerce of baking so that bakers can run their businesses more professionally and profitably. We believe this is the best way to give back to the society.”

Ganiyu Obaaro