Case Study: Food Manufacture
Kerry Sweet Ingredients UK Limited (KSI, Durham) the Durham based food manufacturer and supplier to some of the biggest brand names in the food industry, has secured fully – funded training for 21 of their employees with the assistance of Business First.
When Rob Pugal, Technical Manager at KSI Durham was approached by Business First’s Employer Engagement Advisor Paul Clark earlier this year; they discussed a new qualification that would be ideal for his employees. Since then 21 staff members from their 30-strong team have been enrolled on a Train to Gain NVQ Level 2 in Food Manufacture.
Rob has said, ‘As a forward thinking organisation, being able to provide staff with local training resources has been ideal for the very competitive business environment that we are working in. Our employees and the company are benefitting from learning skills that prepare them for the challenges that will inevitably arise in the future’.
Since commencing the NVQ programme, the Business First training assessors have been spending time with the employees to help them achieve their qualification. Rob added that, ‘With all training taking place on-site it certainly suits us’.
After noticeable improvements in overall employee motivation, moral and productivity since training started, Rob believes that the working-relationship established with Business First will continue into the future. ‘Although training has been specifically ‘moulded’ and ‘geared’ to the set-up at KSI Durham, it could be easily transferred to another Kerry Foods site.
‘We would certainly recommend the Train to Gain programme and Business First as a training provider to other employers. Feedback from our staff has been very positive...Thank you Darlington College!’
