Technical Operations Training for 30 staff from Colman’s Norwich
24/01/09
EAGIT provide Technical Operations Training for 30 staff from Colman’s in Norwich
Staff at EAGIT Ltd. have recently welcomed 10 operators from Colman’s in Norwich for technical training. The training has been designed around the needs of Unilever to have 30 of their pre-selected operators to receive technical training to become competent enough to be able to carry out a lot of the first line inspection and maintenance roles on the machinery they work with. The idea is that this will then free up the fully qualified engineering staff to deal with the more critical work tasks. It also helps to develop and expand the roles’ of the operators which should extend their responsibilities and skills to be able to deal with greater challenges. The first part of training, an initial 8 weeks of full-time intensive training at EAGIT’s centre was completed in December 2008. This was part one of Phase One and involved 10 Unilever operators (Operators can be seen in the picture below being presented with their certificates by David Shorten CEO. EAGIT instructors are also present).
The group from Phase One will now return to their workplace and spend a further 12 weeks of on the job training and assessment within the workplace. One of EAGIT’s experienced assessor’s David Wilby (himself a previous Unilever employee with Birds Eye), will be on-hand to provide guidance during this period.
Phase Two is due to start in March 2009 with a further 10 operators being trained and Phase Three in August will introduce yet a further 10 of Colman’s staff to EAGIT’s profession training and hospitality.
Kevin Read, Dry Food Unit Manager of Unilever UK Foods said: “The candidates who attended Eagit Training Centre for 8 weeks of engineering training as part of the Technical Operator Training programme found the course challenging but very rewarding. The candidates were initially apprehensive about the workload of the course but soon overcame this and settled into the programme where they developed their skills in mechanical maintenance and were delighted to achieve their Performing Engineering Operations qualification.
The introduction of Technical Operator’s to the Norwich site will bridge the gap between Engineering and Operator ownership of production equipment by allowing candidates who complete the training to become involved in duties of increased inspection and first line maintenance. Eagit Training Centre have provided a sound training course that will ensure the Technical Operators have the required skills to provide a first engineering response to line technical issues. We hope that the second and third phases of training are as successful as the first has been“
EAGIT staff at are certain that Kevin’s won’t be disappointed with his hopes for successful outcome for the next phases of the project. He can feel assured that what ever Unilever’s requirements we will be as accommodating.
David Shorten, EAGIT’s CEO said, “EAGIT is delighted to be working with Unilever to implement this challenging programme. Building on the skills of the existing workforce to improve productivity and competitiveness shows real foresight and we wish the company and the learners every success.”
If you would like information about similar bespoke courses for your staff then please contact Jamie Cooper on 01603-480643 or email j.cooper@eagit.org
