Nexnet

Improve, the food and drink sector skills council has been working with five companies employing between 20 and 60 people, carrying out a skills needs analysis programme to identify training which would help bolster performance.

Funded by the Department for Employment and Learning, the scheme looks to help time-strapped managers analyse workforce training and skills needs, with a view to improving productivity and efficiency.

 

“It is perceived that many SMEs in Northern Ireland have major problems developing their staff through training,” said Improve’s Northern Ireland regional development manager Geoff Lamb.

 

“The purpose of this project was to assess, through a small sample of companies, if this was the case.

 

“It has been very successful. All those who took part felt on-the-job training was of particular importance in developing their staff. In several companies the need for Apprenticeships was also highlighted, with bakery and engineering appearing as the most important.” 

 

The five companies which signed up to the scheme were Ashers Bakery, based in Newtownabbey, employing 50 staff, Hughes Mushrooms, in Dungannon, with 60 employees, Salad Fayre in Newtownards, which employes 20 members of staff and Mash Direct in Comber and Cottage Catering in Dromore, which both have 40 employees.

 

“Without exception the businesses surveyed are very ‘immediate’, they are dealing with fresh produce which has to be turned around quickly and this adds additional pressure to managers in terms of fulfilling orders,” said Geoff.

 

“It leaves them very little time to think strategically and look at how to strengthen their business.

 

“The managers are aware what needs to be done to address identified skills gaps, but less aware of how and where to close the particular gaps, which is where the skills needs analysis becomes invaluable.”

 

Sylvia Weatherup, general manager of Ashers Baking, said she would recommend the programme to any other company.

 

“We found it very beneficial as it highlighted a number of areas we could address and we are now progressing some of these,” she said.

Geoff is now hoping the success of the pilot scheme will help secure funding to roll the programme out across Northern Ireland.

 

“What we hope we have established is that offering this kind of assistance can give smaller companies invaluable help towards achieving their business objectives.

 

“It is companies such as the ones analysed in this survey that represent the backbone of the Northern Ireland food manufacturing industry,” said Geoff.

 

 “All these companies have been affected by the economic downturn and are facing pressure on sales and profit margins.

 

 “The Skills Needs Analysis showed how up-skilling employees could improve productivity, efficiency and output and how developing efficiencies can help deal with the pressure on profit margins retailers are placing on manufacturers.

 

“The scheme has already proven to identify the needs of these organisations. It has helped the employers involved recognise and identify where the skills gaps exist and given them confidence in seeking to address these issues,” he said.

 

For further information, go to www.improve-skills.co.uk.

 

Ends

 

Improve is part of the network of sector skills councils established by the government to take the lead in driving up skills in the workplace in order to promote higher productivity and stronger competitiveness for UK businesses in the global market. Funded primarily by the government, sector skills councils are also supported by employers whose needs they represent when stimulating change among the providers of education and skills. Sector skills councils work closely with employers to promote greater commitment to improving skills in their workforces, and with schools, colleges, universities, and private training organisations to improve the provision of basic skills training and to make vocational and occupational training more relevant to the modern commercial climate.

 

 

Issued on behalf of Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, www.improveltd.co.uk, by Nexnet PR, Leeds, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Nexnet on 0113 247 0029 or email paul.newham@nexnet.co.uk or joanne.mead@nexnet.co.uk.