CONSCIENTIOUS staff at Tangerine Confectionery have been sharpening their skills with the help of Back-up Training, specialists in the delivery of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) to the food manufacturing sector. The training allows staff to gain new qualifications, designed to help them in their roles across the business.
   Click here to see a selection of staff presentation photographs.
   The NVQ programmes were completed at Vicarage Lane and Clifton Road in Blackpool and are now in progress at Poole, Liverpool, Pontefract, Cleckheaton and York, making sure food safety remains an integral part of the culture at Tangerine, whilst also helping the company to drive its commitment to developing its people.
   Pete Sanders, operations director, said, "We're delighted that so many employees have achieved, or are currently working on, their NVQ Level 2 in Food Manufacture. For those about to embark on the award, we wish them well and look forward to their commitment to the programme."
   Tangerine is committed to developing and training staff, so it is delighted to have received the Employer Loyalty Gold Award in March 2010, recognising that more than 75 per cent of employees have achieved an NVQ Level 2 in Food Manufacture with the awarding body, FDQ. Tangerine is the first company to receive this prestigious award.

This report has been adapted from an article in Zest, the Tangerine staff newspaper.

BACK-UP Training and Recruitment has been awarded the prestigious NVQ Centre of the Year Award by The Worshipful Company of Butchers and the Meat Training Council.

The award was presented by Jeffrey Davies, F Inst M, Master of The Worshipful Company of Butchers, (above) at the Annual Prizegiving Reception and Luncheon on Tuesday February 23, 2010 at Butcher’s Hall, London.

The event was also attended by the president of the Meat Training Council, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, who is better known to the public as The Black Farmer (right).

Heidi Greaves, managing director of Back-up Training pictured above receiving the award, said, "This is a very proud moment for Back-up. We work hard to help others achieve more and get recognition, and our clients thank us for that. Now we have this recognition from a very prestigious organisation. We're absolutely delighted."

For more information about Back-up Training and Recruitment, call 01430 810506.

JAYNE Beer (left) of The Seafood Company has won a Workplace Development Award at the Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education, sponsored by Back-up Training and Recruitment.

Jayne was presented with the Outstanding Personal Achievement award by Ray Ellis, acting principal, at a glittering gala evening ceremony.

Cathy Hough (right), director of work based learning and workforce development at the Grimsby Institute, said, “These awards are a reflection of the support of our fantastic employers and collaborative partners and the outstanding effort and enthusiasm of our learners.”

Heidi Greaves, managing director of Back-up Training and Recruitment, said, “We are delighted for Jayne. She can be very proud of her award. Back-up is very pleased to sponsor the award, which represents wide recognition of the hard work and dedication that Jayne has put in.”

Back-up’s name in (London) lights
Training and assessment help to create 'eco-ethical model factory'

BACK-UP Training’s contribution to a major M&S initiative was recognised at a high profile conference in London on January 28.

Back-up is providing training and assessment services for 2 Sisters Food Group, a supplier to M&S. Ranjit Singh, 2 Sisters chief executive, presented his factory’s achievements to the M&S Ethical Trade Conference at Kensington Town Hall.

Jill Moore, co-director of Back-up Training, said, “We were really pleased that the training and assessment Back-up is doing at Flixton site got a mention. Flixton is working with M&S to create an 'eco-ethical model factory'. Looking after their people and equipping them with relevant skills is all part of this and links into the learning centre we helped to create with the Meat Training Council. To have our contribution recognised at such a high-profile event is something to be really proud of.”

The M&S Ethical Trade Conference was opened by M&S executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose (above right) and delegates heard key note presentations from influential speakers, including Matt Brittin, managing director of Google UK  (go on, click it, see what you get).

BACK-UP Training was pleased to play its part in the opening of a new learning centre at the 2Sisters Flixton facility in October by Sir Stuart Rose, executive chairman of Marks and Spencer.

The Suffolk centre is a key component in 2Sisters’ commitment to learning and people development and a contribution from the Meat Training Council helped to fund equipment at the centre, following a proposal from Back-up Training and Recruitment.

The event was also a memorable occasion for five proud food process operators. Following the centre's opening ceremony, Branislav Fabini, Dijana Liepinaite, Edgaras Liepinaitis, Edweena Grimes and Rodney Rayner were presented with their NVQ level two food manufacture certificates at the 2Sisters centre by Sir Stuart.

The certificates were awarded by Food and Drink Qualifications and delivered by Grimbsy Institute.

Photo caption, left to right: Barry Greaves, Back-Up Training; Branislav Fabini; Dijana Liepinaite; Edgaras Liepinaitis; Edweena Grimes; Rodney Rayner; Angela Long, awarding body director; Mandy Stutter, NVQ assessor for Grimsby Institute; Bill Jermey, chaiman of Meat Training Council; Sir Stuart Rose, executive chairman, Marks and Spencer.