Moy Park wins top marks for training in manufacturing Oscars

The poultry processor’s training success was recognised in front of hundreds of food and drink manufacturing sector guests at an awards celebration at The Hilton Park Lane, London hosted by star TV presenter Carol Smillie.

Moy Park’s Sajad Ahmed, from its Ashbourne Training Team, received the award from category sponsor Appetite Learning’s Alex Bebbington.

The independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of National Skills Academy for Food and Drink – praised the firm’s Sprint graduate management programme. Aimed at developing the next generation of leaders, the programme focuses on sharpening skills in key areas such as: communication, interpersonal skills and financial awareness.

Leadership qualities​

The programme is focused on high-performing individuals that will contribute to the future growth of the company. It fosters leadership qualities by enabling trainees to learn new skills, providing a series of opportunities for each participant, complete with internal support group to sustain progress.

One judge enthused: “It’s tough to get onto any graduate scheme and this one would offer an amazing star to anyone’s food manufacturing career.​

“The structure of the Moy Park programme was excellent – all designed to deliver the next generation of leadership talent.”​

‘Next generation of leadership talent’​

Also shortlisted in this category were Rise Bakery and Weetabix.

Meanwhile, the overall coveted title Food Manufacture Company of the Year was won by Mash Direct​ after it won the Chilled and Fresh category earlier in the evening.

The Food Manufacture Personality of the Year title went to 2 Sisters Food Group technical learning and development manager Janette Graham​ for her pioneering work in developing the government’s new Trailblazer apprenticeship programme for the food and drink sector.

This year’s Venice­-themed FMEAs awards ceremony, dedicated to celebrating the achievements of winners and finalists​, took place on the evening of Wednesday, November 2. Register your interest for the 2017 Food Manufacture Excellence Awards here.