Chairman of top offshore food suppliers Strachans appointed Honorary Professor by University of Dundee

One of Scotland’s top offshore figures is aiming to inspire a new generation of business leaders after being appointed an Honorary Professor for the University of Dundee.

Stanley Morrice is Chairman of Peterhead-based firm Strachans Limited, the UK’s leading offshore industry food and drink supplier, which employs 140 staff and has an annual turnover of £70million.

Now Fraserburgh-born Mr Morrice, 55, is looking forward to passing on his 30-plus years of experience at the forefront of Scotland’s retail and wholesale sectors to students at the university’s School of Business.

He said: “I’ve been lucky that right through my career, I’ve had mentors or people who have inspired me and driven me on. Now I want to give something back and help University of Dundee’s business students be the best that they can be.

“It is a huge honour for me to be appointed as an Honorary Professor. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to help the next generation and definitely feel humbled.”

The University of Dundee was recently placed in the UK top five for Business, Management and Marketing in the Guardian university league tables for 2018.

Mr Morrice joined Strachans – part of the world’s largest ship supplier, Wrist - as Managing Director in January 2013, before recently being appointed Chairman. Strachans supplies most of the UK’s rigs and platforms from its three depots in Peterhead, Aberdeen and Great Yarmouth.

Amazingly, dad-of-two Mr Morrice only fell into the food retail and wholesale world when he was forced to abandon his dreams of becoming a fisherman after a car crash that left medics battling to save his sight.

Former Scottish Enterprise Grampian Vice Chairman Mr Morrice explained: “My family were very involved in the fishing industry, so that was the goal up until I had the car accident, aged 14, almost exactly 40 years ago.

“I was actually assigned to get an eye removed but by the time I got down to theatre, the doctors were able to save it. I needed a lot of plastic surgery done to my face, eye, ear and the top of my head.

“It really did put a stop to my plans to get out on the boats because I was really quite unwell for a long period of time.

“The accident triggered me staying on at school for a fifth year, which I never intended doing. I took a summer job with a local retailer and the rest is history.”

He added: “The world works in mysterious ways because something that seemed like the worst thing in the world turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I’m really thankful I had that car accident now.”

Mr Morrice made his mark at Aberdeen-based convenience store chain Aberness Foods Ltd.

He joined the company as a Sales Director in 1994 and after becoming MD in 1999, he boosted sales by 50 per cent and tripled profits before overseeing the company’s sale to supermarket giant Somerfield in 2004.

Mr Morrice can’t wait to help shape the business stars of the future in his new University of Dundee role.

He said: “A big part of what I’ll be helping students with is strategy and on building business relationships and selling yourself.

“Before I took on the role of Managing Director at Aberness, Bruce Cochrane, the then Chairman, forced me into doing an MBA at Stirling University. I was well into my career, but I do think he was right because it gave me extra confidence.

“You’ll get people who say MBAs are a waste of time but there are things, especially on the strategy part, that I’ve used in every business that I’ve been involved with. It also gives you loads of connections. This is something I will impress upon the students.”

Professor Kevin Grant, Director of the School of Business at the University of Dundee, said, “I am delighted that Stanley is bringing his vast experience in business to bear on our students.

“His track record in business stands as an inspiration to our students, who will benefit greatly from learning from someone like Stanley. This is a significant contribution to our activities, including co-designing and delivering modules.”