Fox’s Biscuits are doing their BIT
One of the UK’s leading food manufacturers embraced some of Pera’s business improvement training so wholeheartedly, it helped them win an award. Yorkshire based Fox’s Biscuits won the Train to Gain Consortium Award for ‘Best Large Employer’ in the county. This was for their enthusiastic approach to Train to Gain, which included the Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) Programme which was delivered by Pera.
The company, which has been part of Northern Foods plc since 1977, is
well known for the high quality, indulgent biscuits it manufactures
under the Fox’s brand as well as for a number of leading UK retailers
under their own brand names.
As part of the overall BIT Programme, the company committed to training
nearly half of its 1100 permanent staff in Business Improvement
Techniques NVQ Level 2. They will also take a number of these learners
through to Level 3 and eventually they will have the internal
capability to train all members of staff.
Immediate improvements were made by employee initiatives across the
company following the BIT training, including: waste reduction, machine
changeover reductions, operator utilisation, recycling, workplace
organisation and packing methods. One project reviewing the biscuit
changeovers on a packing line showed a 76% improvement from the
logistics viewpoint with significant cost savings.
Employees have independently spoken to the Pera team saying how the
training was worthwhile, and many are pleased that this has been
followed by additional responsibility and management support. The
training was delivered by Principal Trainer Keith Burton, from the
Midlands and North Business Support Centre, who explained that at the
end of the BIT Programme the results were presented to local management
by the candidates.
The feedback passed on to Pera by the Fox’s management team has not
just been about the cost savings but the team and personal development
of the candidates which had been significant over a short space of
time.
Alison Carruthers, Fox’s Biscuits Training Manager adds that, ‘Pera’s
outstanding ability to become a key partner with Fox’s and show empathy
with the learners, some of whom have long been out of a environment to
study, has proven priceless; particularly when dates for courses have
to change due to business pressures.’
Pera Cymru is an exciting development which enables Pera to combine its
skills and experience from across the UK and internationally with BIC
Innovation’s specialist knowledge of the Welsh economy and public
sector.
For more information please contact Rod Howells on Email: enquiries@peracymru.com, or
Tel: 07920 563576
