Deputy Minister for Skills, Ken Skates with partners of the Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project
In today’s high pressure work environment it can be increasingly difficult to take time out in order to address important training needs. That could all change, thanks to new online courses, launched at the Royal Welsh Show today (Monday 21 July 2014) by the Welsh Food and Drink Skills Project and the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Ken Skates.
As the largest combined workforce in Wales, the development of the Welsh food and drink sector is hugely important, and providing appropriate and practical training is crucial to meet the increasing demand of the industry.
The online courses will build on the comprehensive suite of training already offered by the Welsh Food and Drink Skills Project according to Project Manager, Siân Roberts-Davies, “The courses that we run at present range from food hygiene awareness to waste awareness training, all designed to help businesses work more efficiently and more profitably. While our courses are extremely popular and in great demand we are aware also of the difficulty of being able to take time out for training. Our new online courses will give employers the flexibility of allowing workers to undertake essential training, without leaving the workplace, and at convenient times.”
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates was the first to see the new courses as they were unveiled today at the Royal Welsh Show. The Deputy Minister supports the view that there is a need to offer various options when it comes to training and tailor them to the individual’s needs, “In such an important sector for the Welsh economy it is important that the training is available when and where it is needed. The recently published Food and Drink Action Plan also reiterated the emphasis on skills development and as this sector grows people need to have the appropriate skills to be able to support it. That’s why, last week, I launched a new 10 year Skills Implementation Plan, which sets out actions needed to help Wales evolve into a more highly-skilled and competitive nation.
“While face to face training will continue to be an important part of developing our workforce there is undoubtedly a need to develop e-learning modules that respond appropriately to business requirements and modern day work patterns. I look forward to seeing these rolled out further and would encourage anyone working in the sector to take advantage of them.”
The Welsh Food and Drink Skills Project will be at the Royal Welsh Show all week, at the Lantra Stand, and have partnered with Careers Wales, offering career advice and guidance to anyone with an interest in working in this ever-growing sector.
The Welsh Food & Drink Skills Project is supported by the Sector Priorities Fund Pilot programme with funding from the European Social Fund administered by the Welsh Government, and delivered in partnership between Lantra, the Environmental and Land Based Sector Skills Council, Improve, the Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Skills Council and People 1st Cymru, the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council.
