Degree for CEO

2 Sisters Food Group CEO Ranjit Singh is to be awarded an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University.

The official citation from the university’s chancellor Kevin Cahill CBE says the honorary degree is “in recognition of his significant contribution to the food manufacturing industry, to education and the development of his workforce, and for his philanthropic interests.”

The citation adds that “through his work, and in communications with farmers and other partners in food manufacturing, he has become a champion for quality and reliability, and for the power of the “British brand”. In particular, Ranjit has steered his business into the vanguard of food safety.”

The citation continues that 2 Sisters’ £10m campylobacter reduction initiative is the industry’s most comprehensive, and the group is committed to eliminating antibiotics in its poultry production and is setting up trial farms to develop alternative methods of healthy farming.

2 Sisters’ link with the city’s university comes from the business’s micro biological testing laboratories based at Nottingham’s BioCity, which tests nearly a million food samples a year and takes on many graduates from the university’s innovative higher apprenticeship food science course.

2 Sisters has also been an industrial partner in developing the university’s part-time multidisciplinary Masters programme, which starts in September.

The university bosses also singled out Ranjit’s commitment to helping the wider community through the Boparan Charitable Trust.

The Trust supports children and young people whose lives are disadvantaged by poverty, disability or terminal illness. Both the business’ colleagues and people outside 2 Sisters have raised substantial sums in the past eight years to improve the lives of youngsters less fortunate.

Ranjit said: “For someone who left school at a relatively early age to pursue a business career, I am delighted and humbled to receive this honour from the university.

“I never imagined, 22 years after starting in business, that I would be recognised in this way.

“I lead a large and diverse food business and I am truly grateful that Nottingham Trent University has recognised the contribution 2 Sisters plays in the wider community.

“As well as making great tasting food and providing employment and career opportunities for many thousands of people, I am proud that we can say we lead in the food safety and sustainability arenas.

“To be recognised officially in this way is fantastic news and a testament to the great work our people do, day in, day out.”

Nottingham Trent University Chancellor, Kevin Cahill CBE, and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Edward Peck, will be conferring the degree at a graduation ceremony at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham on 21st July.

Ranjit will be given the degree of Doctor of the University honoris causa.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Edward Peck, said: "It is a privilege to award these honorary degrees in recognition of the tremendous achievements of the recipients.  All of our honorary graduates are outstanding in their fields.  They have enriched and influenced the lives of people living in Nottingham, the UK and, in many cases, around the world. They are not only an inspiration to our many young adults who are also graduating this year, but to all of us.”