Meat firm’s academy could be a prize plan
A DESIRE to attract and retain employees from the surrounding area persuaded west Wales butchery and meat processing business Celtica Foods to develop its own training academy.
Celtica Foods has been shortlisted for this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru. The company will be competing to become Medium Employer of the Year at the awards at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport on October 20.
Thirty star learners, employers and learning providers involved in the delivery of successful skills programmes across Wales have been shortlisted for the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru.
The awards are designed to showcase and celebrate the achievements of learners, employers, tutors and assessors who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeships and Apprenticeship programmes.
Celtica Foods, a division of food wholesaler Castell Howell Foods, recognised that one of the potential business threats was the age profile of senior butchers – averaging 49 years – and the changing labour market meant fewer skilled butchers were available for recruitment.
The company needed to attract younger staff and give them a full range of butchery skills to meet the requirements of the catering and hospitality sector.
A training academy was established and qualifications are delivered by training provider Cambrian Training Company.
Over the past decade, 114 staff have completed apprenticeship programmes and the company currently has nine apprentices.
“It is noticeable that the apprentices are enthused with their continual learning and they respond well to the time invested,” Edward Morgan, Celtica Foods’ managing director, said.
The Cross Hands-based company has a workforce of 75 and a turnover of £12.8m.
It supplies the hospitality and food service sector and many of its products are bespoke to individual customers, requiring skilled butchers to process orders.
Skills and Science Minister Julie James said: “Apprenticeships and vocational skills training are essential ingredients of economic success and vital tools in building a stronger, fairer equal Wales.
“These awards provide a perfect platform to celebrate success and reward the hard work and dedication of learners, employers and training providers across Wales.”
Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the awards are sponsored by Pearson PLC and supported by media partner, Media Wales. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.