College partners with global food company

Telford College is partnering with food company Kraft Heinz to help create the future engineering workforce of tomorrow.

The company, formed by the merger of Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz Company in 2015, has one of its three UK factories in Telford, where it packages many of the brand’s well-known sauces including ketchup, mayonnaise and brown sauce.

Lola Jones is one of the apprentices currently in the ranks, after starting the first year of her engineering technician level 3 apprenticeship, on the mechatronics pathway.

“I assist other engineers on breakdowns, working on planned maintenances, replacing parts and maintaining systems so they work properly,” she said.

“My dad is an engineer; I’ve watched him grow in the profession and become a manager, and he’s really inspired me to follow his footsteps. I love the problem-solving element of engineering, figuring out how things work.

“I found the role after applying through the Telford College apprenticeship team. I was interested in a couple of jobs, but after my interview and tour of Kraft Heinz, I loved it and knew it was the job for me. They’ve made me feel very welcome.”

Dan Gibbons, learning and development partner at Kraft Heinz, said: “We were previously using a different provider outside of the county for our apprenticeships, however I wanted to get into the local community, putting in the steps in place to hire and train local talent.

“We found the process of hiring a Telford College apprentice so easy. We were given CVs of so many good candidates. After interviewing a strong group, we hired Lola. I wish we could have taken them all!

“We’ve got a great support network in for Lola - we've given her a great mentor who’s another female with a lot of experience in the engineering industry, plus we have regular one-to-one meetings to make sure she’s progressing well.

“We’re hoping to get more apprentices in this year and grow a really good training partnership with the college.”

Chris Field, business development manager at Telford College, said: “To work with Kraft Heinz - a global brand - is fantastic. They have a clear passion to embrace apprenticeships, and we’re delighted to work with them to develop their staff and offer opportunities.

“Partnerships with local employers are incredibly important. As a local college, we need to be working with companies like Kraft Heinz and listening to their expertise and experience to enhance students learning.”

Pictured: Lola Jones who is on an engineering apprenticeship with Kraft Heinz