LAMB WESTON WINS EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Leading food manufacturer Lamb Weston has been named Employer of the Year by Cambridge Regional College for its commitment to staff training.

A fantastic three-quarters of the company’s 200-strong full-time and contract workforce at its Fenland premises has received training through the college, from English and Maths qualifications to management, train the trainer and team-leading apprenticeships.

With many of its staff coming from Eastern Europe, English language classes have proved particularly important, helping improve communication throughout the team, while skills training has enabled staff to stay on top of increasingly sophisticated computer systems.

Paul Breheny, Head of English and Maths at CRC, said Lamb Weston was an inspiration to other companies in its recognition of the importance of training.

“Lamb Weston is a very worthy winner of our Employer of the Year award, demonstrating how much a company can do to help their staff develop through training,” he said.

“Good English and Maths is a key skill in all areas of life, and it is never too late to improve. We have worked with Lamb Weston for two years, providing training that makes a real difference to employees, and I’m very pleased that we will be continuing the partnership.”

Wisbech-based Lamb Weston training manager Darren Sadler, who was presented with the award at the college’s Adult Learning Awards night, said CRC provided excellent training, tailored to the way the company worked.

“I’m delighted to receive the award for Employer of the Year, and am looking forward to continuing to work with the college,” he said.

“CRC understands that we are a business that has five different shifts working a 24/7 shift pattern, and sometimes school hour delivery alone is not always possible. CRC’s commitment to ‘doing whatever it takes’ to get the job done is first class.

“Course content is important, but worth much more when delivered in the right way and by the right person, and that’s one of the things which keeps us coming back to CRC. The employee-teacher relationship that we have with CRC, along with the commitment of our own staff, are just two of the reasons why our employees are already looking forward to continuing their training next year.”

Caption CRC principal Anne Constantine, right, with Darren Sadler and Lamb Weston employees Ewa Walencik, Colin Melder, and Linda Bradford.