Preserves maker Duerr's has put its workers through their paces via the government-funded Train to Gain programme.
All 120 production line workers at the manufacturer's two plants in Wythenshawe and Old Trafford, near Manchester have completed three months of training to secure an NVQ Level 2 in Performing Manufacturing Operations. Each trainee had to finish three assessments in order to gain the qualification.
Staff were grilled about their roles by external assessors from government subsidised firm Business Impact, who were observing them on site since January and recording their responses on dictaphones.
The initiative was the brainchild of Duerr's health and safety manager Kim Bradley. "We're proud of every one of the Duerr's extended family members who are graduating," said Bradley. "Some of those working with us joined with little or no qualifications. The Train to Gain scheme has given them their first qualification along with the confidence to do a better job."
Graduating employee Clare Richards from Chorlton, Cheshire, said: "I struggled to gain qualifications in a traditional school environment because of my dyslexia. It went undetected or diagnosed, so on-the-job visual and verbal assessment was ideal.
"While speaking to my assessor he gave me support and information on the nearest facility where I could get help and advice outside of work. The company have now provided me with a 'colour card' to put over my paperwork, so I can complete my work with ease and confidence."
Having taken this tranche of employees through the course, Duerr's aims to introduce it into its standard induction programme at Level 1. Some 20 recruits will begin the training next, with 20 more set to enrol in the next intake. Those who complete it will be encouraged to enrol on a Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) NVQ Level 2 course.
In addition to the Train to Gain initiative, Bradley said Duerr's recruits would continue learning from its bespoke training manuals and from veteran staff through its 'buddying system'.