Posted: 20/01/12
Apprentices to be cream of the crop
One of the country’s largest dairy producers has joined forces with Vision West Notts to provide logistics apprenticeships across the UK.
Dairy Crest, the makers of Cathedral City cheese and their own label milk brand, has signed a three-year programme with the college, in conjunction with the Freight Transport Association (FTA), to provide apprenticeships in Traffic Office Operation and Warehousing and Storage.
Thirty-seven new recruits and current staff will be the first employees in the UK to study on the apprenticeship programmes, designed to address skills shortages in the logistics sector.
The apprenticeships will be delivered at Dairy Crest’s seven UK sites on a rolling programme over the next three years.
Apprentices studying Traffic Office Operation will learn route-planning techniques, vehicle utilisation and customer liaison, and have the opportunity to study the logistics operations programme; learning all aspects of the logistics operations industry. They will also achieve the new International Operator’s Licence.
Warehousing and Storage apprentices will learn about receiving, storing and preparing to despatch goods to customers, as well as learning to drive a fork lift truck and large goods vehicles.
The college’s business development manager for transport and engineering, Craig Done, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to work with one of the UK's leading diary food companies and the FTA on these speciallly-tailored apprenticeship programmes. As a logistics academy we’re able to provide high-quality, industry-relevant training and learning programmes nationally which will help to raise the professionalism of the sector.”
Dairy Crest's logistics director, Nick Wadey, said: “We are committed to training and inspiring our staff to be the best in the industry. These apprenticeship programmes in conjunction with FTA and Vision West Notts will enable us to offer real opportunities to develop everyone within logistics, at whatever level.
“Furthermore, it’s a great career start for 16 to 19 year-olds to achieve a well-grounded, fully-supported apprenticeship qualification.”
