Perth-based meat processing company ABP Food Group has been named Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) Youth Employer of the Month for the company’s commitment to Modern Apprenticeships and training.
Various employees at ABP Food Group’s Inveralmond Industrial Estate site have completed their Food and Drink Operations meat and poultry processing Modern Apprenticeship training, with 14 workers currently receiving their apprenticeship training from Stewart McClynmont of Scottish Meat Training.
Sonia Riveiro, ABP’s human resources officer, expressed her delight at receiving the award: “We want the best people to work for us, so we invest strongly in training and development. We worked with SDS on a full workforce development plan including our youth engagement strategy, because it can be challenging to attract young people into our business and our industry, and it has worked.”
The company plans to recruit more Modern Apprentices in the next two years. ABP recently worked with local long-term employed young people to help them get the skills to get back into work by offering workshops for CV writing and interview skills.
Its workforce includes people from 11 different nationalities, which prompted the company to offer language training, supported by Scottish Enterprise, which will give people access to more development opportunities.
The company was nominated for the SDS Award by SDS relationship account executive Claire Owens.
“The importance ABP places on training and developing people is showing great results for individuals and the business and I am delighted that commitment has been recognised,” she said.
Chairman of SDS, John F McClelland CBE, added his congratulations, saying: “ABP’s commitment to training and developing its diverse workforce and its strong links with the local community are to be commended. The company is creating a clear career pathway that will help its employees reach their potential and bring benefits to the business.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
