Ferndale Foods are a local food manufacturing company in Erith. The Sector Based Work Academy (SWAP) programme allows candidates to get the relevant training across a 10-day period to enable them to attend an interview with the potential of gaining permanent employment.
The programme prepares candidates for interviews alongside gaining all the relevant training - including manual handling and food hygiene. They even get the opportunity to meet key members of staff and have a tour of the premises.
The course enabled individuals to develop their confidence as well as verbal and written communication skills.
Ian Dunn – Food Safety and Manual Handling Course Tutor, said, “As part of their journey they worked towards Level 2 Awards in Food Safety and Safe Manual Handling qualifications. The challenge was how to bring the group together whilst addressing the psychological effects of being unemployed.”
We enrolled four people onto the programme and two have already been offered a permanent full-time job with Ferndale Foods – there’s potential to hire more of those candidates.
The outcome of these programmes is very successful, and we offer several programmes within different industries - healthcare, business administration and construction. All courses range in length.
If you know anyone who would be interested in this programme - please visit our website to find out more about our Adult and Community Learning courses.