Career pathways for the hungry to learn

A new crack team dedicated to all things apprentices is now up and running and it’s offering colleagues and new starters the chance to kick start their careers in the food industry. With more than a 150 colleagues already signed up, the team at 2 Sisters expects to double this number before the end of its first year.

Britain’s biggest food manufacturer already offers a wide range of apprenticeship schemes at different levels across their business from food technologists to food operatives, from engineering to accountancy.

A pioneer in developing the government’s new trailblazer apprentice programme, Janette Graham has played a pivotal role in positioning 2 Sisters at the forefront of this exciting development in the food and drink sector.

Janette, who leads the in-house team, said: “The next generation of food entrepreneurs will have a fantastic opportunity to carve out a pathway and develop a stimulating and impressive career in the food industry.”

“We can offer something for everybody from an advanced apprenticeship for new entrants into the food industry right through to an MBA course for our senior management team.”

“This is an exciting time and the apprenticeships will enable us to showcase the food industry as a top career destination for young people and promote the roles within our business that have become more difficult to recruit.”

The 2 Sisters in-house apprenticeship team is about to launch its third level three course in management to add to the advanced food and drink process operator standard and food technology standard.

Commenting on the latest announcement Justine Fosh, Chief Executive at The National Skills Academy for Food and Drink, added: “Janette has been instrumental in developing new apprenticeships for critical areas of skills needs such as food technology and operations. She has played a pivotal role in setting industry standards.”

HUNGRY TO LEARN: The apprenticeship courses are aimed at a mix of new starters and pre-existing colleagues at sites across England.

A case study: Cavaghan and Gray – Prepared Meals facility

In Carlisle, they have been training the QA’s to step up to be food technologists by offering an advanced apprenticeship in food technology. The site has also encouraged food technologists to join a higher apprenticeship that leads to a degree in food industry technology and one of the current QA managers has enrolled on the manufacturing manager apprenticeship degree programme with the University of Lincoln.

Lindsey Buckley, HR director for Meal Solutions, said: “Talented colleagues are vital to the long-term success of Meal Solutions. This is why we are so committed to apprentice training within our business.”

“As a forward thinking and innovative business, our talent vision is to attract the best candidates, develop World Class Leaders and retain talent within the organisation. Apprenticeships are key to how we engage all our colleagues and inspire them to do their best work each and every day. We are one team and everyone counts.”