Campus Training accredited as national specialist

A Sussex training organisation has strengthened its reputation for excellence after being accredited as a member of a national network for the food and drink industry.

Campus Training, based in Uckfield, East Sussex, has joined 41 other providers within the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing. Its membership acknowledges its success in providing innovative skills solutions and quality training programmes to food and drink companies that enable students and employees to get ahead and excel.

Campus Training is part of the Grosvenor Group, a global organisation providing the full spectrum of training needs from the warehouse to the boardroom. Offering both custom designed in-house programmes and nationally recognised qualifications, such as NVQs in food manufacturing, Campus Training is able to meet businesses’ diverse training requirements.

Keith Lewry, centre manager for food and drink and warehousing, said: “This is fantastic recognition for us and I believe joining the National Skills Academy is the way to go forward to meet the future needs of the industry. It gives us an opportunity to share best practices when it comes to developing and delivering training programmes to employers.

“We offer a complete package of training programmes to employees at all levels to help a business achieve the skills it requires. From 'on-the-job' training to short courses, vocational or professional, the training is specifically tailored and relevant to an individual business. Whatever its size, we can equip staff with the skills needed to compete effectively in the workplace and boost production.”

Campus Training will join the National Skills Academy’s general food and drink network and was welcomed at the Academy’s annual network conference on October 23, held at London’s Westminster Kingsway College. The conference offered providers the opportunity to take part in workshops and listen to seminars focussed on new food and drink qualifications, employer support and updates on skills policy and programmes.

The National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing was established in 2007 in order to raise standards in occupational training within the food and drink industry. It operates through a series of provider networks on a region-by-region and sector-by-sector basis, with separate networks established for bakery, dairy and general food production, as well as for specialist operational disciplines such as lean manufacturing and robotics and automation. It now has 42 providers across the UK delivering high-quality training programmes to the 500,000 employees in the food and drink manufacturing sector.

National Skills Academy director Justine Fosh said: “I am delighted to welcome Campus Training to the network as its reputation for quality training programmes is second to none. It has much to offer and will no doubt play a key role in the ongoing development of the National Skills Academy. Our aim is to create a network of training providers which can offer bespoke solutions that bring real business benefits to food and drink companies throughout the UK.”