QMS Finalist in Major Industry Award

Quality Meat Scotland’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Carol McLaren, has been selected as a finalist in a major award in recognition of her contribution to the red meat industry.   Ms McLaren, who has worked for QMS for ten years, is a finalist in the trade section of the Meat Businesswoman Award at the annual Women in Meat Industry Awards.    The awards are driven by Meat Management reader nominations and votes, with the category’s overall winner chosen by a public vote which will be open until 5 August via www.womeninmeatawards.com/vote.     Ms McLaren said: “Being shortlisted for this award is great recognition for the work of the wider QMS team which is committed to supporting the Scottish red meat industry and seeking opportunities to communicate its positive messages.    “I am very proud of the excellent work of the marketing and communications team at QMS in delivering year-round activity with schools and to educate and inspire the wider public about what sets the Scottish red meat industry apart.   “This ranges from demonstrations to ensure children can cook nutritious meals with beef, lamb and pork to working with high profile chefs and influencers to cascade all our industry has to be proud of.   “Best of luck to all the women shortlisted, and we look forward to the voting announcement at the start of August.”   Carol, who started her career as a farming journalist, was recognised for her passion and advocacy for the farming and red meat industry, her skill in encouraging collaboration in the sector and her work on issues management.   During the past year, Carol’s leading role in the development of three new campaigns for Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork has resulted in boosted sales and increased brand awareness across all categories, as well as reaching millions of consumers across the country.    The shortlist adds to a number of recent successes for QMS’s marketing and communications team, which recently took home the PRCA DARE award for In-House Team of the Year in recognition of its work highlighting the positive nutrition, animal welfare and environmental credentials of the red meat industry.   The Women in Meat Industry Awards are designed to recognise the vitally important contributions that women make to the meat sector. This unique awards initiative is driven by reader nominations and votes, with an expert judging panel gathering to select the overall Meat Businesswoman of the Year recipient, which is presented to one of the category winners.    All winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by broadcaster, newsreader, journalist, and 2017 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas champion, Katie Derham, on 15 November in London.     For more information or to vote for Ms McLaren visit www.womeninmeatawards.com/vote