The UK’s largest egg supplier – Noble Foods – is successfully running a cohort of 30 apprenticeship placements across its workforce, the family-owned company has announced.
Spanning the Noble Foods’ Poultry, Milling, Consumer Foods and Central business units, the cohort of apprentices cover a wide range of professional, skilled roles from engineers and drivers to HR and Poultry technicians.
“We have a long history as a thriving family business, but we know our future relies in the capable hands of the next generation”, says Louisa Hogarty, Group HR Director at Noble Foods. The drive behind the boost in apprenticeships follows a series of commitments made by Noble Foods, as the company continues to invest in young people and the progression of its colleagues.
“Every business leader here at Noble Foods is dedicated to investing in and nurturing talent. Whether that’s engaging young people in what we do, or giving colleagues the chance to expand their capabilities, education and employability.”
Rhys Chiswell, who joined Noble Foods in May 2021, is just one of the 30 colleagues participating in an apprenticeship scheme. Rhys originally joined as a Mill Operative and has now passed the Class 2 HGV licence, soon followed by the Class 1 level.
“Being part of the apprenticeship scheme at Noble Foods has helped me achieve a dream of mine to become a HGV driver. It has actually opened up a new world of opportunities for me and my family’s future” comments Rhys Chiswell.
“Going back to a classroom setting was a little overwhelming at first, but it was refreshing and meant I could learn so much more than just driving a lorry. I couldn’t have done this without the support of all the management and office staff through my tests and training days. That flexibility is something I’m very grateful for and I would highly recommend this scheme to anyone.”
Similarly for Chloe Last, an HR Advice Manager at Noble Foods’ head office in Lincoln, the apprenticeship scheme has been “straightforward” and easy to incorporate into her daily responsibilities.
“Going through the apprenticeship scheme has given me another layer to my career and experience. It’s a real-world accreditation that I’m able to rely upon now and in the future. Incorporating my training and exams into my day job was straightforward too and I was supported by my colleagues the entire time”, continued Chloe last.
In addition, Noble Foods has also worked with POULTEC to create a work and competency-based City & Guilds qualification and training course, the Diploma in Work-based Agriculture. The training is tailored by selecting units most relevant to the learner’s work. Each learner is visited regularly on their own site (roughly once a month) for on-site training, support, and assessment by their dedicated assessor.
The biggest single group of apprentices, however, are part of Noble Foods’ successful Poultry business, located in Gainsborough. With the youngest colleague at age 16, it’s hoped that this is the beginning of many more exciting positions for school leavers. As one of the largest, longest-standing employers in the area, the opportunity for the ten new apprentices currently enrolled in Food and Drink Processing on-site is further testament to the company’s commitment and footprint in the region.
