Apprentice of the Year Award
Date: 10/08/2007
Jonathan Pearson, 22, who works for Schwan’s Consumer Brands, makers of Chicago Town and Freschetta frozen pizzas was one of just three finalists in the category; Apprentice of the Year. At the ceremony hosted by TV presenter Nick Knowles, at the London Hilton on Park Lane, Jonathan waited nervously for the announcement. The final announcement came with Jonathan as the winner.
Jonathan, who works in a factory of 400 employees, was up against two very good fellow finalists from the different worlds of hairdressing and painting and decorating. He completed his apprenticeship in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations with Schwan’s, and grasped the skills to succeed so quickly that within five months of finishing the programme he was promoted to his current role of deputy team leader. He has already started to work towards a team leading qualification.
Terry Fennell, learning and frameworks manager for Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, said: “Jonathan thoroughly deserves this outstanding recognition of his achievements. It is a major boost for the whole food and drink manufacturing sector to win this award. It is the first time the industry has had a finalist, let alone a winner.”
“More and more employers are recognising the value of apprenticeships. Schwan’s, by their commitment to the programme, have already shown how beneficial this sort of training can be to a business in a highly competitive market. The firm increased its manufacturing output by 6.5 per cent in 2006.”
In his current role, Jonathan, is not only responsible for the quality of all the products within the bakery, but also for maintaining safe working practices at all times. He works with his team to keep them motivated and to meet targets, while minimising downtime and maintaining productive efficiency in the bakery.
He is also a member of the health and safety team, and has actively contributed to reducing accidents by 50 per cent in the last 12 months. He said: “As part of the ongoing development of the team and the company as a whole, I have assisted in creating troubleshooting manuals to help new employees, night-shift staff, and other personnel to help reduce downtime during changeovers. My apprenticeship has not only given me a great sense of wellbeing and security, but it has also given me the confidence to aim for the top.”
On behalf of Jonathan’s employer, business improvement manager Mike Hyland said it was a combination of structured training, and Jonathan’s personal commitment that had enabled him to achieve so much, illustrated by his selection as Employee of the Month in July 2006. “He is a role model to younger employees in other departments,” he said.
Donna Coleman, Scheme Co-ordinator at North Lancs Training Group, which delivered Jonathan’s apprenticeship programme, said: “Jonathan is a prime example of what can be achieved through an apprenticeship. With the right guidance and a lot o hard work, individuals can succeed in their chosen sector. We are so proud of Jonathan – he has already won NLTG’s award for the Best Overall Apprentice 2007, so this is like the icing on the cake for us.”
Stephen Gardner, director of apprenticeships at the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the organiser of the awards, said: “A a time when our nation’s skill levels need to be improved, apprentices are excellent examples of people who are making plans for their future by learning the skills and knowledge they will need. Their dynamic attitude to work is recognised by the LSC’s national Apprenticeship Awards. This is the fourth year the awards have been held – a positive sign of the outstanding contribution individuals and UK business are making to raise skills levels and improve productivity and competitiveness nationally.
