Posted: 06/07/12
Barnsley company in fresh apprenticeship drive
A South Yorkshire food manufacturer is making its biggest-ever single investment in apprenticeships.
Fresh-Pak Chilled Foods – the UK’s largest producer of fresh sandwich fillings and hard-boiled egg processing – is recruiting 14 apprentices to join its manufacturing team at Wombwell, Barnsley.
It has joined forces with apprentice recruitment service Vision Apprentices, which matches would-be trainees with employers, and Hope Valley-based CQM Training and Consultancy to find the right candidates and train them up.
The positions are open to recent school and college-leavers, with candidates taking part in a two-day assessment process including time spent on the production line.
Successful candidates will be placed on the company’s apprenticeship programme and complete a Level 2 food manufacturing qualification.
The company has created a separate production facility at its production site at Waterside Park, Valley Way, Wombwell, where the apprentices will be trained to use its state-of-the-art equipment.
After completing their qualification, the apprentices will become permanent employees of the company and move into various areas of the business – with five being fast-tracked into trainee management and technical positions.
CQM will deliver the training on behalf of Fresh-Pak, for whom it already delivers successful lean manufacturing programmes.
Andrea Barlow, HR manager of Fresh-Pak said: “The food industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK and we are the market leader in chilled sandwich fillers, operating to the highest food safety standards supplying major retailers.
“We have recognised a skills gap within the industry and are now embarking on our own apprenticeship scheme, which will give the right candidates the credentials to build a successful career within the industry.”
Sandra Cowley, director of Vision Apprentices, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for ambitious young people looking for a career in the food manufacturing industry.
“Fresh-Pak is a local success story built on a proud history of developing its workforce, so it’s fantastic to see it make such a major investment in apprenticeships. I’m sure this injection of new talent will be the foundation for an even more prosperous future.”
Founded more than 20 years ago, Fresh-Pak opened its site in Wombwell in 2004 and now employs over 250 people. It is the UK’s largest dedicated manufacturer of fresh sandwich fillers and hard-boiled egg processing.
To apply for one of the apprenticeships visit www.visionapprentices.co.uk or for further information call Daniel Galbraith at Vision Apprentices on 01623 627191 ext. 8162.
The deadline for applications is Monday 23 July 2012.
More about Vision Apprentices:
Vision Apprentices is a wholly-owned subsidiary of West Nottinghamshire College and supports employers with the recruitment of apprentices – from creation of the job description and person specification, to advertising of vacancies, screening of applications and placement of candidates.
An Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA), it offers employers the flexibility to hire apprentices from the agency under contract or employ them directly.
Launched in 2010, to date it has supported more than 1,500 people onto apprenticeships in a wide range of businesses – becoming one of the largest ATAs in the country.
