Noble Foods has taken on 30 apprentices across its business. Spanning the poultry, milling, consumer foods and central business units, the cohort of apprentices cover a wide range of professional, skilled roles from engineers and drivers to HR and poultry technicians.
“We have a long history as a thriving family business, but we know our future lies in the capable hands of the next generation,” said Louisa Hogarty, group HR director at Noble Foods.
“Every business leader here at Noble Foods is dedicated to investing in and nurturing talent. Whether that’s engaging young people in what we do, or giving colleagues the chance to expand their capabilities, education and employability.”
Rhys Chiswell, who joined Noble Foods in May 2021, is one of the 30 participating in an apprenticeship scheme. Chiswell originally joined as a mill operative and has now passed the Class 2 HGV licence.
“Being part of the apprenticeship scheme at Noble Foods has helped me achieve a dream of mine to become a HGV driver. It has opened up a new world of opportunities for me and my family’s future,” he said.
“Going back to a classroom setting was a little overwhelming at first, but it was refreshing and meant I could learn so much more than just driving a lorry. I couldn’t have done this without the support of all the management and office staff through my tests and training days. That flexibility is something I’m very grateful for and I would highly recommend this scheme to anyone.”
Chloe Last, an HR Advice Manager at Noble Foods’ head office in Lincoln, said the apprenticeship scheme had been straightforward and easy to incorporate into her daily responsibilities.
“Going through the apprenticeship scheme has given me another layer to my career and experience. It’s a real-world accreditation that I’m able to rely upon now and in the future. Incorporating my training and exams into my day job was straightforward too and I was supported by my colleagues the entire time,” she said.
In addition, Noble Foods has also worked with Poultec to create a City & Guilds qualification and training course, the Diploma in Work-based Agriculture. The training is tailored by selecting units most relevant to the learner’s work. Each learner is visited roughly once a month for on-site training, support, and assessment by their dedicated assessor.