CQM Training & Consultancy Ltd takes Britvic’s manufacturing improvement programme to new levels of excellence
Britvic Soft Drinks initiated a culture of continuous learning and loss reduction in all areas of drinks manufacture in 2007 for its bottling plants in Leeds and Huddersfield. In 2010 the World Class Operator programme was developed to support employees’ learning, flexibility and contribution to the delivery of the zero loss philosophy. This resulted in improvements in quality assurance, waste reduction and yield improvement. To develop the leadership skills required for successful completion of the World Class Operator programme, CQM T&C Ltd was chosen to deliver the next 14-month stage leading to the Diploma in Food Manufacturing Excellence, which the adult apprentices have all now achieved.
Recognition of the innovative and results-focused programme came on 6th November 2012 when Britvic won Training Programme of the Year at the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards – the Oscars of the food and drink industry.
CQM T&C Ltd was chosen partly for its successful track record in the food industry and also because its quality delivery has been formally recognised. It is the “National Champion” provider for Food Manufacturing Excellence for the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink.
Vikki Corson, Training Co-ordinator – Britvic Northern Region said: “CQM has worked very closely with our sites to understand our objectives in delivering the overall programme, our culture and the behaviour changes that were needed to ensure our 12 learners were successful. The delivery has been flexible and extremely well managed by CQM. There has been a real partnership approach with the CQM trainer becoming one of the team.”
In May the UK’s first 17 apprentices in Food Manufacturing Excellence qualified. They are all employees at confectionery manufacturer, Thorntons PLC, and their training was delivered by CQM T&C Ltd. The programme was a finalist at the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards in 2010.
Justine Fosh, Director of skills solutions at the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink commented: “FME training delivers solutions that ensure efficiency gains for the business in the short term and underpin significant growth opportunities for the medium and long term. We are pleased that it has been successfully piloted at Thorntons and is being adopted in many other organisations in the food and drink sector.”