LSC to present its first employer ambassador award to 2 Sisters Food Group

The Learning and Skills Council Humberside (LSC) will be presenting its first Employer Ambassador Award to 2 Sisters Food Group in Scunthorpe, on Monday 7th June at 3pm, in recognition of their commitment to basic skills training in the workplace.

Linda Ainsworth, Director of Adult Learning and Strategic Marketing at the LSC, will be presenting Shirley Derrick, Group Personnel Manager at 2 Sisters Food Group, with the plaque and certificate, to mark the organisation’s achievements.

In collaboration with the LSC and 2 Sisters Food Group, North Lindsey College has recently opened an outreach learning centre for employees from 2 Sisters Food Group and other companies based on the Foxhills Industrial Estate in Scunthorpe, offering work-based access to training and education.

Linda Ainsworth, Director of Adult Learning and Strategic Marketing at the LSC, said, “We have chosen 2 Sisters Food Group as the first company to receive a Basic Skills Employer Ambassador Award as they have such a fantastic attitude towards learning. Since the launch of the innovative learning centre, approximately 250 employees from the company have received some form of workplace training in literacy and numeracy including ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). They really deserve this recognition, and on behalf of the LSC I would like to congratulate them for their achievements.”

Shirley Derrick, Group Personnel Manager at 2 Sisters Food Group, said, “The 2 Sisters Food Group at Scunthorpe is very proud to have been awarded an Employer Ambassadors Award by the LSC Humberside. Workplace training and development will become increasingly important to employers, particularly employers of manual unskilled labour. Training in areas such as ESOL, Basic Skills and Numeracy will play a critical part in developing the workforce to contribute to our business. We recognise how important our employees are, and as they develop so will the company. Each and every employee is an important part of the company’s future and we recognise the need for investment in them.

Wes Johnson, Curriculum Manager at North Lindsey College, said,

"The Essential Skills department at North Lindsey College has developed a strong, collaborative relationship with 2 Sisters over the past two years. During this time nearly 100 enrolments on ESOL courses have taken place, mainly as a result of a provision that fully meets the needs of the learners, the company and national strategies, linked to a HR commitment by 2 Sisters in the release of staff on 'company-time'. This provision is developing to include literacy and numeracy training available to all employees. We are in the process of rolling out this model of good practice to other companies in the area, who recognise the benefits to both the employee and employer."

As part of the Basic Skills Strategy, the LSC have developed the Employer Ambassador Award to recognise and reward employers who have successfully embraced literacy and numeracy training in the workplace. 2 Sisters is the first employer within the LSC Humberside area to receive this accreditation.

2 Sisters Food Group employs more than 3000 people and supplies the UK’s leading food retailers, food manufacturers and food service companies. Its principal site is in Scunthorpe on the Foxhills Industrial Estate where it specialises in primary chicken production. So far they have carried out an extensive training and development programme, providing literacy and numeracy courses including ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) through North Lindsey College. Employees are released on full pay for two hours each week to attend ESOL classes.

New food processing facility for Marks & Spencer

2 Sisters Food Group, one of the UK’s leading primary chicken processing companies, today (Friday 29th August), celebrated the formal inauguration of its new chicken processing facility in West Midlands.

Justin King, Marks and Spencer, Director of the Food Division, marked the event by digging the first footings, in a ceremony attended by members of the project team.

The building programme which will take approximately 12 months and £7 million to complete. The project will complete 2 Sisters Food Group 3 year strategy of establishing centres of production excellence.

The project team have scoured the UK, Europe and North America to identify the most appropriate systems and equipment for this flagship factory.

Justin King said, “I am delighted to mark the commencement of this production facility which will supply a range of fresh chicken portions to Marks and Spencer’s stores. It is a significant investment and illustrates the commitment made by 2 Sisters Food Group to our business. “

Ranjit Singh, chief executive of 2 Sisters Food Group said, “We will be investing in some very innovative technology for our systems and equipment, which will set the standard in terms of packaging, product quality and presentation. We have benchmarked our selves against the best in the food industry and our project team are very excited that the months of planning are about to come to fruition”.

The range of products produced from the factory will include chicken portions for the retail and food manufacturing sectors.

This project will create 400 hundred new jobs, and will be supported by a focussed training and development programme.

Company statement - 2 Sisters Food Group Restructure

2 Sisters Food Group today (Monday 27th May) announced its intention to restructure its poultry business.

Premier Fresh Foods based in Scunthorpe become a specialist centre for processing and packing whole chickens for supermarkets. In addition it will develop an added value facility.

Employees and Unions were being briefed this week on the implications of the restructure, which may result in some job losses.

Company Spokesman James Fountain, said “We hope to minimise job losses and hope to achieve most of them through a reduction in temporary agency staff and natural wastage.

Mr Fountain added, “ The restructure will ensure the long term viability of the Foxhills processing operation and allow us to compete with the growing number of imports. We are investing in the latest poultry processing equipment and will have a world class processing facility”.

Notes.
1. Premier Fresh Foods was acquired by the 2 Sisters Food Group in November 2000.
2. The company announced last month its intension to move to Seven day working to meet consumer demands for fresh product 7 days a week 24 hours a day

One hundred new jobs created at 2 Sisters Food Group new Smethick Food processing factory

2 Sisters Food Group, the UK’s leading primary chicken processor today (Monday 12th November) celebrated the opening of its new dedicated fresh chicken ingredients factory in Smethwick, Birmingham.

The new multi million pound facility was officially opened by Tesco commercial director, Colin Smith in a ceremony attended by suppliers, employees and key customers.

Colin Smith said, “ I am delighted to be opening this new facility which will supply a range of fresh chicken ingredients to TESCO stores. It is a significant investment and illustrates the commitment made by 2 Sisters chief executive Ranjit Singh to our business. “

The two million pound factory investment contains the latest state of art equipment designed to give the consumer the best and most convenient product. The key feature is a revolutionary packaging system developed by Cryovac.

The process takes calibrated stripped, diced and sliced fillets and packs them into a tray wrapped in pre-printed leak proof film. This system does away with the need for additional label application and modern printing processes enable superior design and product information to be applied.

Ranjit Singh, 2 Sisters Food Group chief executive said, “ the trials have gone very well, we have had very positive feed back from consumers. Our pre launch research highlighted leaky packaging as one of the consumer’s biggest gripes. With this latest innovation we are putting an end to leaking packaging and providing consumers with the convenience they demand. “

The range of products produced from the factory is ideal for stir-fry, curries, wraps and snacks and satisfy the demands of the busy shopper.

2 Sister’s new facility is part of the groups commitment to establishing centres of production excellence, already established is the Groups Scunthorpe facility which produces wholebirds, frozen thighs and drumsticks, East Markham free range & organic birds, Birmingham site A retail fillets, site B calibrated fresh & frozen fillets for further processing and retail.

One hundred new jobs have been created in the factory, which are being supported by a dedicated training programme.