Interview with Scott Feltham, chair of Airmic’s Food & Drink SIG

Scott Feltham, group insurance manager at Compass Group, a global catering business, undertook the challenging job of chairing the Food & Drink Special Interest Group (F&D SIG) in March 2020.

Soon after which the Covid-19 pandemic triggered an abrupt end to in person meetings. This group, as many others, has thrived under the shift to digital.

“To say nothing of logistics, since the first meeting back in March of 2020, the impact of Covid-19 has featured quite heavily on the agenda given that most of those who participate in the F&D SIG operate in the hospitality sector; this being one of the hardest hit sectors as a result of global pandemic,” he says.

After the initial phase, focus naturally shifted from the immediate consequences of the pandemic, towards the re-opening of business within the hospitality sector, and how to manage the key risks that would arise.

“Gaining insight into how others in your sector have navigated their way through the pandemic has been invaluable with lots of best-practice being shared; this has also led to something of a ‘community’ spirit amongst key members of the SIG which has helped to boost morale during what was an extremely challenging time for those in the F&D sector,” says Feltham.

While acknowledging the important role virtual meetings have played in allowing continued engagement during the past year, Feltham is eagerly anticipating a return to physical meetings.

“I, personally, am a big supporter of face-to-face discussion and maintain that the levels of engagement in face-to-face meetings are much higher than those that are generally experienced in “virtual” meetings. Nonetheless, I see things working as something of a hybrid of face-to-face and virtual going forward.”

About Airmic Special Interest Groups: https://www.airmic.com/community-1

Airmic’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are led by the membership, and aim to form communities to share experiences, learn and let creativity thrive. They can be formed around a theme, a line of business, a risk, or even simply an industry, whose members want to come together and exchange. Here members can draw from theory and develop practical applicability to mitigate risk, or sometimes just network and brainstorm with colleagues to change the way we think and expand our professional horizons. A special interest group will make you feel part of a broader community. If you would like to get in touch and join a meeting, or even host one yourself, please contact alex.frost@airmic.com or leigh-anne.slade@airmic.com.