Food firm looks to take on 50 new staff
A FOOD giant based within commuting distance of Ashbourne is looking to recruit more than 50 people as it prepares for its busy festive season.
Poultry firm Avara Foods, in Scropton, is looking for new people to join the production, hygiene, quality assurance and transport teams with a range of fixed term and permanent roles available.
It comes as many companies across the country are having to reduce staff due to the coronavirus pandemic as they face an uncertain future.
However, Avara is bucking the trend as it looks to take on new staff across the business as demand for poultry products remains high with chicken and turkey being a mainstay of many people’s weekly shopping lists, bosses said.
A spokesman for Avara said: “The company is a safe and secure choice of employer for those who might be facing uncertainty during the current volatile economic environment.”
Avara Foods is one of the UK’S largest food businesses, supplying the nation’s favourite supermarket and restaurant chains.
Avara’s Scropton operations are an essential part of the company’s Christmas production.
As the company’s biggest tur
key processing site, the run up to Christmas is always busy, the spokesman added.
Temporary staff, as well as permanent, are required as soon as possible as activity ramps up in readiness for the festive season.
Strict health and safety measures have been implemented across Avara and in its supply chain to help protect staff from Covid-19. A spokesman said: “Colleague safety has always been a top priority.”
Just some of the measures implemented include screens and curtains installed along production lines to create physical barriers, floor markers laid in canteens and other shared spaces demonstrating the physical distance staff should remain apart and shifts and break times have been staggered to reduce the number of staff coming into contact with one another.
Canteens and break areas have spaced out seating and perspex dividers and additional cleaning regimes have been introduced in high traffic areas and more hand sanitising stations installed across all sites.
Temperature checking of visitors, new starters and daily random temperature checking, along with a company-wide face covering policy aims to provide further peace of mind for those working at the factory, he said.
Avara says it offers starting rates of pay above National Living Wage and full training will be provided, and the chance to progress within the company during the busiest period in its history.
Andrew Brodie, people and communications director at Avara Foods, said: “We’re keen to welcome new colleagues in Scropton. We’re busier than ever and need motivated, dedicated people.
“Shoppers rely on us every day to ensure their baskets remain filled and we’re proud to continue feeding the nation, despite the challenges of the past few months.
“We’ve operated throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to do so safely and efficiently.”
More information about the roles is available by visiting avarafoods. co.uk/careers or emailing hollybankjobs@avarafoods.co.uk
taurant opened in Leicester Square.
As Mrs Holland had registered the Brompton Road shop as Ken’s Kabin in her own name the new venture at 21 Leicester Square was called Ken’s Cabin and was opened by Mrs Despard.
The “cabinettes” became celebrities in their own right, distancing themselves from political and women’s groups.
Miss Emily “Ken” Ware left the teashop in July 1908 to manage a café in The Strand. She eventually married an insurance clerk and left the waitressing world.
A vote of thanks was given by Laura Wilson, committee member, who thanked Ann for such an entertaining evening.
The next meeting of Ashbourne WI will take place again via Zoom on Thursday, November 12. This will be the annual meeting.
After the business of the annual meeting there will be a crafts session when, all being well, members will be divided into smaller groups (on Zoom) to enjoy one another’s company whilst working on the craft assignment.
Planting reminder of good deeds
Ashbourne Rotary Club
THE planting of purple crocus bulbs at this time of the year is carried out by Rotary clubs around the country.
The purple reminds us all of the little fingers of children in Pakistan and Afghanistan who have received the polio vaccine and dip their fingers in a dye so that the organisers can be sure they have covered all the population.
In Ashbourne in recent years bulbs have been planted in the Memorial gardens around the bandstand and on the village green in Hartington.
This year, with the cooperation of Derbyshire Dales District Council, 8,000 bulbs have been planted on the roundabout at the bottom of Carnation Way and should give a wonderful display to the entry to the town come Spring.
Work parties were organised, suitably distanced and wearing fluorescent clothing to enable the planting to take place.
The photograph shows the members of the club hard at work.
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