Meat manufacturer Tulip creates 100 new jobs

Conservative North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham told FoodManufacture.co.uk that Tulip’s expansion plans would be a big boost to the local economy.

“It entails a big investment in King’s Lynn,” said Bellingham. “For them to be expanding is a real complement to King’s Lynn.

“Some of these jobs are going to be very well paid. It’s bucking the trend in the food processing sector.”

‘Bucking the trend’

A statement – released last week – said Tulip would be filling the vacancies “in the next few months” and would cover skills in “a number of areas and disciplines including production management, slicing, hygiene, despatch and engineering as well as a specification technologist”.

Tulip’s senior human resources advisor Kylie Quantrill said “This is a very exciting time for the King’s Lynn operation and the creation of over 100 new full-time positions at our site will have a really positive impact on the local economy.”

The jobs will be based in the manufacturer’s factory in Beveridge Way on the Harwick Narrows. It employed about 530 people at its King’s Lynn production site.

The company announced in February this year that it had expanded its 2016 apprenticeship programme and recruitment would extend until April last month, offering 48 positions including engineering and technical roles.

Jobs at risk

In March, the business revealed plans to axe 121 jobs at its Wirral sausage plant.

Last January, the manufacturer said that 430 jobs were at risk, as a result of its decision to move its cooked meat operation from Bodmin to Cornwall.

Tulip produces pork products for UK and foreign markets and currently employs over 7,000 people in 17 sites across the UK. Its annual turnover is about £1.1bn.

Meanwhile, Justine Fosh, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink, said recently the shortfall of skilled workers in the food and drink sector was likely to be revised up from 107,000 to 130,000 people between now and by 2025.