Innovations in Skills Helps Dunbia Succeed

Innovations in Skills Helps Dunbia Succeed Thu 05 May 2011 The launch of a unique Butchery Academy by Dunbia in Dungannon is among a series of innovations in employee training which are helping the company succeed in export markets, Dr Bill McGinnis, Northern Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills, said today. Dr McGinnis was speaking during a visit to Dunbia, now one of the leading red meat processors in the United Kingdom and Ireland. During the visit Dr McGinnis was briefed about the work of the Butchery Academy in Dungannon. Dr McGinnis said: “Dunbia is an excellent example of a locally owned company which has recognised the important contribution that skills development and training make to competitiveness particularly in international markets. “The Butchery Academy is an innovative and highly successful response to a skills gap that management pinpointed in 2008 and has strengthened links between this progressive company and colleges and schools in the region. “The Academy offers young people opportunities to build rewarding careers with one of the leading businesses in food processing, in an industry now worth more than £3 billion a year to the Northern Ireland economy. “Dunbia is an excellent role model for other companies in food and other industries here wishing to grow successfully in international markets. I am working with the Food Sector Skills Group on initiatives including a broader range of apprenticeships which will help to grow the industry and enhance its contribution to the local economy, particularly in rural communities, by improving skills to strengthen overall competitiveness. “Evidence from my report on the Identification of Priority Skills found that the food and drink industry is facing skills shortages in a number of critical areas. The problem is not a lack of employment opportunities, but of suitably qualified applicants from schools, colleges and universities. My report found strong evidence and a need to ensure that new recruits and the existing workforce are qualified to a minimum of level 2 and the need to upskill the skilled trade element of the workforce to level 3.” Jim Dobson (Group Managing Director Dunbia): “As a global business selling in 15 markets we recognise the need to focus continuously on measures to increase productivity and overall performance throughout the company. This will ensure that we continue to compete successfully and profitably in today’s challenging markets. “Developing our skills base through extensive investment in training has long been a strategic focus for the company. As a result of this focus, we have a comprehensive and structured training setup in Dungannon and our other sites in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. “Our Dungannon operation, for instance, is an approved NVQ assessment centre and offers employees at all levels access to whatever training they require. “The Butchery Academy was also launched to offer an attractive choice for school leavers. It enables individuals to achieve a recognised accredited qualification, the NVQ Level 2 in Food Manufacture and for us to gain the skills we need to develop our business. In addition, Dunbia is an approved IOSH (Institute of Safety & Health) Centre and trained 100 managers last year. “Furthermore, we at Dunbia recognise the importance of upskilling our current workforce in leadership and management skills and we have encouraged our managers to work towards the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 2 and 3 certificates. To date over 400 people in Dungannon have achieved an ILM qualification.” Dunbia was formed in 1976 by brothers Jim and Jack Dobson and currently employs 3,200 people across a wide range of disciplines at 10 sites and sales offices throughout Europe. It employs around 1,000 people in Northern Ireland, mostly in Dungannon, and is now one of Northern Ireland’s biggest employers. It also has a pork processing plant near Ballymena. The company supplies beef, lamb and pork products to local, national and international markets including the majority of the leading UK multiples. It also exports a range of products to customers in more than 15 countries. Dunbia was recently named ‘Processor of the Year’ at the Meat & Poultry Processing Awards in Birmingham, organised by the Meat Trades Journal. A recognised centre of excellence for innovation, Dunbia has won several industry awards in the past 18 months including a ’finalist for innovation’ at the UTV Business Eye Viscount Awards in February.

Thu 05 May 2011

The launch of a unique Butchery Academy by Dunbia in Dungannon is among a series of innovations in employee training which are helping the company succeed in export markets, Dr Bill McGinnis, Northern Ireland Adviser on Employment and Skills, said today.

Dr McGinnis was speaking during a visit to Dunbia, now one of the leading red meat processors in the United Kingdom and Ireland. During the visit Dr McGinnis was briefed about the work of the Butchery Academy in Dungannon.

Dr McGinnis said: “Dunbia is an excellent example of a locally owned company which has recognised the important contribution that skills development and training make to competitiveness particularly in international markets.

“The Butchery Academy is an innovative and highly successful response to a skills gap that management pinpointed in 2008 and has strengthened links between this progressive company and colleges and schools in the region.

“The Academy offers young people opportunities to build rewarding careers with one of the leading businesses in food processing, in an industry now worth more than £3 billion a year to the Northern Ireland economy.

“Dunbia is an excellent role model for other companies in food and other industries here wishing to grow successfully in international markets. I am working with the Food Sector Skills Group on initiatives including a broader range of apprenticeships which will help to grow the industry and enhance its contribution to the local economy, particularly in rural communities, by improving skills to strengthen overall competitiveness.

“Evidence from my report on the Identification of Priority Skills found that the food and drink industry is facing skills shortages in a number of critical areas. The problem is not a lack of employment opportunities, but of suitably qualified applicants from schools, colleges and universities. My report found strong evidence and a need to ensure that new recruits and the existing workforce are qualified to a minimum of level 2 and the need to upskill the skilled trade element of the workforce to level 3.”

Jim Dobson (Group Managing Director Dunbia): “As a global business selling in 15 markets we recognise the need to focus continuously on measures to increase productivity and overall performance throughout the company. This will ensure that we continue to compete successfully and profitably in today’s challenging markets.

“Developing our skills base through extensive investment in training has long been a strategic focus for the company. As a result of this focus, we have a comprehensive and structured training setup in Dungannon and our other sites in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

“Our Dungannon operation, for instance, is an approved NVQ assessment centre and offers employees at all levels access to whatever training they require.

“The Butchery Academy was also launched to offer an attractive choice for school leavers. It enables individuals to achieve a recognised accredited qualification, the NVQ Level 2 in Food Manufacture and for us to gain the skills we need to develop our business. In addition, Dunbia is an approved IOSH (Institute of Safety & Health) Centre and trained 100 managers last year.

“Furthermore, we at Dunbia recognise the importance of upskilling our current workforce in leadership and management skills and we have encouraged our managers to work towards the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 2 and 3 certificates. To date over 400 people in Dungannon have achieved an ILM qualification.”

Dunbia was formed in 1976 by brothers Jim and Jack Dobson and currently employs 3,200 people across a wide range of disciplines at 10 sites and sales offices throughout Europe. It employs around 1,000 people in Northern Ireland, mostly in Dungannon, and is now one of Northern Ireland’s biggest employers. It also has a pork processing plant near Ballymena.

The company supplies beef, lamb and pork products to local, national and international markets including the majority of the leading UK multiples. It also exports a range of products to customers in more than 15 countries.

Dunbia was recently named ‘Processor of the Year’ at the Meat & Poultry Processing Awards in Birmingham, organised by the Meat Trades Journal. A recognised centre of excellence for innovation, Dunbia has won several industry awards in the past 18 months including a ’finalist for innovation’ at the UTV Business Eye Viscount Awards in February.