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Last year David Wilkinson wrote a blog about the launch of Premier Foods flexible working policy and today he is delighted to share further positive steps that we're taking to create an even more inclusive place of work ...
To mark 50 years of Pride in the UK, our teams have put together a series of educational events that will run throughout June and July, including some exciting guest speakers, who will bravely share their own experiences of homophobia, an LGBTQIA+ pub quiz, a colleague panel discussion and several roundtable events hosted by our factories. As well as celebrating diversity within our business, we hope these events will continue to raise awareness of some of the issues the LGBTQIA+ community face and help educate one another on the role we can all play in making the workplace a more loving and inclusive place. 🌈
A big thank you to our in-house development chefs Ben Craig (pictured) and Steve Ager, who cooked up a storm at this week's 'Fresh Ideas' lunch, giving colleagues the opportunity to test out the latest products from our ranges and raise some money for our charity partner Together for Short Lives in the process. Delicious as always!
Rachel Matheson - Factory General Manager I started working at Premier Food as an operator in 2006 and I am now the Factory General Manager after several promotions. I believe Premier Foods’ desire to recognise and develop talent from within the business played a big part in this. I am responsible for leading a dedicated and passionate team of people, producing Ambrosia, Birds and Angel Delight products. I ensure we are compliant in safety, quality, environment, ethical issues etc and working with the teams on improvements and training plans. Premier Foods is a company with a set of values it genuinely believes in and works hard to cascade. I believe it is a good company with an exciting future, it is also small enough for the level of personal contribution to be recognised and appreciated.
Shruti Chauhan - Finance Director I joined Premier Foods in 2008 and have the pleasure of overseeing the world of finance across UK and International - Commercial and Supply. I've always worked within finance at Premier Foods and I've been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to take on many different roles. What I love about Premier Foods is the variety; I love the constant drive to make each day an improvement on the day before.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and to help increase awareness amongst colleagues, we’ll be hosting a series of events throughout the week, with the aim of equipping individuals with the tools they need to help prioritise their mental health. 💚 Monday - We’ll hear from guest speaker Ross Abbott from Green Cross Training Ltd who will be discussing what loneliness is, the triggers and impacts. 💚 Wednesday – Guest speaker and ex-England cricketer Jonathon Trott will be sharing his own experience with mental health. 💚 Friday – We’ll be back with our regular #Oktobeme panel, where we’ll hear from our very own colleagues and learn about their relationship with mental health, sharing tips on how to support one another along the way. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #IveBeenThere #MentalHealth
Paul Thompson - Operations Director I lead the operations function across the business to deliver the right product, at the right time, right quality, and right cost. Our focus in Operations is keeping all colleagues safe, and driving continual improvement in all its forms, from improving quality and efficiency to reducing waste and our environmental impact on established lines; to improving our responsiveness and capability to launch new products. I enjoy working at Premier Foods because of the variety of work and great people. We have such a range of products, under well-known and much-loved brands, that require a variety of manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. There is never a dull moment. What makes Premier Foods really special is our people, their professionalism and commitment.
David Wilkinson - HR & Communications Director My career at Premier Foods started in May 2007 as Head of Group HR, and after several different roles, I was appointed Human Resources Director in 2014. I am responsible for anything to do with the people side of the business, as well as our IT teams. I joined because I wanted to work in a business that wasn't the finished article and where I would have the opportunity to influence, change and improve things. This has proved to be the case, and I learned and achieved lots in my first seven years, and I have enjoyed every minute of all 14 years! There are three things that keep me working here: the ability to change things, if you have a good idea people listen to you, trust you, and allow you to go with it. There is plenty of variety, always something new, different or unpredictable going on. The people here are great, proud of their business and passionate about the brands.
Simonil Keeka - HR Manager I started as a Senior HR Officer for the Ashford site in June 2012 and was given the opportunity to develop and grow within the business. I am responsible for HR at two sites within Premier Foods which include Ashford and Andover. This is a role which can transform the way the business functions. When I joined Premier Foods, initially it was about the brands. I have now been with the business for seven years and the reason for this is the 'People'. We believe in our values and hold each other accountable. Going to work every day is not a job for me, it’s become bigger than that and that's because the people I work with challenge me and bring out the best in me.
As signatories of the If Not Now, When? Campaign, we’ve committed to take clear and specific actions to increase inclusion and equality for Black employees in the workplace. Alongside other signatories, we’ll share our progress and the actions we’re taking towards creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce, as laid out in our Enriching Life Plan. View the full details and list of signatories here: As signatories of the If Not Now, When? Campaign, we’ve committed to take clear and specific actions to increase inclusion and equality for Black employees in the workplace. Alongside other signatories, we’ll share our progress and the actions we’re taking towards creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce, as laid out in our Enriching Life Plan. View the full details and list of signatories here: https://ifnotnowwhen.uk/
