Kerry Foods wins training award

The firm has enrolled 95 workers in English language courses over the past year with help from the European Social Fund.

The training was part of a project to develop the literacy, numeracy and language skills of low-skilled migrant workers as part of the European Stepping-Stones project.

A spokesman for training provider Poultec Training said: “The Stepping-Stones project, targeted at low skilled and migrant workers, made a big contribution to the Eastern region’s workforce. It eventually helped 3,333 employees with their maths and English skills.”​

Need to succeed​

Scott Turner, general manager at Kerry Foods, Attleborough, said: "We are only as good as our people. So it is up to us to ensure they get the training they need to succeed.”​

Rachel Öner, skills for life manager at Poultec, said Kerry’s award honoured the firm’s willingness to release learners together for classes on company time – both onsite and off.

“This has proven beneficial to the company as employees feel as if they are being invested in… This has led to extremely low staff turnover with happier employees who can perform their job better and progress their careers – where before they were held back by languages,” ​she said.

The award was presented during a visit from East of England MEP Richard Howitt.

The presentation was attended by representatives from The Association of Colleges of the Eastern Region which managed the project on behalf of the European Social Fund. Project manager, Wendy Wilkinson, said: “The success of the project was making the learning meaningful to employers and learners by highlighting the benefits of English language training to the company and the individuals.”​

Polish Food manufacturers​

Meanwhile, the GMB union in Yorkshire has been working with Polish food workers to improve their English skills and their knowledge of UK health and safety procedures. The union, in conjunction with The Polsi Association, hold language courses for about 160 people every week across the county, GMB project worker, Piotr Plonka told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

The language courses are open to both union members and workers from non-recognised work places. Greater language skills and other training such as basic IT courses helps both employees and employers, Plonka said. The employee gains skills while the employer gains a happier worker who is less likely to leave.

The union and Polsi Association also offer advice on non-work related issues such as housing and healthy lifestyles. That contributes improves workers’ quality of life and helps to improve staff retention rates, he added.