Tue 7th February 11:52pm
Dorset Dairy Is The Cream Of The Crop
One of the South’s most successful independent dairies is looking to make continuous improvements in its operation by undertaking training in Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) offered under the Train to Gain initiative.
BV Dairy based in the heart of the Blackmore Vale currently employs over 70 people, all with a passion for creating quality products and working with the local farming community.
The company called upon The Bournemouth and Poole College Business Enterprise team to help them introduce the new training programme, which has already proved to be a resounding success.
BV Dairy Managing Director, Jim Highnam said, “The BIT training has really increased staff involvement as they now feel they can influence and change their workstation and area. The course is very well structured and promotes a systematic approach towards identifying how improvements, big or small, can be made in any area.”
“There is also an increased confidence in managers to let staff get involved in making recommendations for change. The evidence speaks for itself. We’ve seen immediate results in how some of the new practices have made a difference, and staff who did not sign up for the first training sessions are now keen to get involved as they can recognise the significant benefits.”
Paul Butler, Team Leader for the Fresh sector added “I have been on courses before and not gained anything from them. This course is different because it is hands on and not just paperwork, so I have really gained from it. The trainer, Chris Beechey, didn’t just talk at us but interacted with us and took the time to understand how our dairy operates. I’ve taken the training back into the workplace with the confidence to implement change. It’s not just me; you can really see the difference in the people who took part in the BIT training.”
The qualification is proving to be very popular, particularly for manufacturing and food production companies. Jacky Grant, skills adviser with Business Enterprise said, “We’ve been working with a number of companies across the county to deliver this qualification. As with the case of BV Dairy, the benefits can be very specific; for example, one of the teams helped identify ways of reducing lost production hours. Our trainers tailor the training around specific company operations and working time. We’ve even been known to deliver training at weekends and overnight to avoid impacting upon the production line.”
For a no obligation discussion on work–based training call Business Enterprise on 01202 205500.
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