A Blackwood based food and drink manufacturer has upskilled a new recruit to their technical team thanks to funded mentoring support from a Welsh Government project.
ANR-Probake, a leading manufacturer of nutritionally enriched baked goods, received the support from ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University through the Welsh Government’s HELIX Programme.
The company contacted ZERO2FIVE to explore a collaboration when they were looking for support with mentoring Courtney Scott, a technical assistant who had been newly promoted from a quality assurance role. Despite not having a formal background in food technology, Courtney had been identified as a high-potential individual within ANR-Probake and had shown an aspiration to pursue a career within the technical department.
A ZERO2FIVE technologist delivered one-to-one mentoring that focused on building Courtney’s knowledge in priority areas for the company, including the BRCGS Food Safety Global Standard, supplier approval, specifications, and equipment calibration. The support upskilled the technical assistant quickly and effectively, enabling her to take on additional responsibilities within the technical team.
Courtney also attended ZERO2FIVE’s in-house food security workshop series on topics including raw material risk assessment and specifications whilst ANR-Probake received further support to help them gain a better understanding of the waste generated during their production processes.
Sabina Jones, Technical Manager, ANR-Probake, said:
“The support provided by ZERO2FIVE has been invaluable, not only to Courtney’s professional growth but also to our organisation. It has been incredibly rewarding to witness Courtney’s increased knowledge and confidence, which has enabled her to take on additional responsibilities. This, in turn, has allowed me, as technical manager, to dedicate more time to broader business priorities. I would highly recommend ZERO2FIVE to any Welsh food business seeking expert support.”
Professor David Lloyd, Director of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, said:
“The technical training that we deliver through the HELIX Programme is essential in helping to create a skilled workforce that can meet the needs of the food and drink industry in Wales. From one-to-one mentoring to group-based workshops, we encourage you to get in touch with us to discuss your training requirements and the funded support that may be available.”
The HELIX Programme is delivered by four organisations across Wales and provides a range of funded technical and innovation support to Welsh food and drink companies.
