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William Robert Baxter. CBE, D.Litt
William Robert Baxter (born August 1960 ) is a British foodservice and hospitality entrepreneur. William Baxter retired from commercial life in 2011. He remains actively involved with the industry in which he played a leading figure for over 30 years and continues to serve the sector as Chairman of Hospitality Action (since 2010) as well as serving his local community as Chairman of Scannappeal, a charity which raises funds to purchase life saving medical equipment for hospitals in Buckinghamshire.

Early Life
Baxter was born in Inverness, Scotland (1960) spending his infant years there and in Mid-Wales until when at the age of eight, his family moved to Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex. He is one of 4 children with parents, mother, Gillian Baxter and his father Ron Baxter, who attended the University of Cambridge. He was a civil engineer and Chairman of Halcrow and Vice President of the Institute of Civil Engineers. Although he is dyslexic Baxter obtained A levels and was offered places at university to study architecture; however he chose a career in the hospitality sector. He studied for a HND in Hotel and Catering Industry Institutional Management (1979-1982 ) at Westminster College.

Career
Baxter began his career working at the Selfridge Hotel (1978) and joined Sutcliffe Catering (1982 rising to become one of their youngest ever Area Managers . He left in 1987 to set up his first contract catering operation, Baxter and Platts which he co-founded with Robert Platts, growing it to become the UK’s leading contract caterer at that time . He sold this business to Granada in 1997 staying with the company until 1999 as Executive Chairman . In 2000 Baxter launched his next contract catering venture, BaxterSmithhttps://www.thecaterer.com/articles/23936/baxter-returns-to-take-on-contracting-giants, with Mike Smith which he merged with the then WSH to become BaxterStorey, taking on the role of Deputy Chief Executive until his retirement in 2011.

Charity
A lifelong supporter of charitable initiatives, Baxter is Chairman of Scannappeal, Chairman of Hospitality Action , a trustee of the MESV Trust , a Patron of Springboard , and is a former Governor of the Misbourne School in Buckinghamshire.

Awards
Baxter has been recognised with numerous accolades. Named as the Food Service Caterer of the year in in 1996 he was shortlisted as an Entrepreneur of the Year in the 2003 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2012 he received D.Litt, from the University of West London and was given his first life time achievement award to the hospitality sector in 2014. In 2010 Baxter was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the catering industry and this was followed in 2017 with a second life time achievement award.

Personal Life
Baxter met his wife whilst studying at Westminster College and they have 3 sons and 1 daughter. He is a keen fisherman, sailor, golfer and he enjoys motor sport.

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