Burton’s Biscuit Company, a major player in the UK biscuit market, is committing over £1M over the next four years to developing new engineering talent, helping to ensure the business is equipped for continued growth.

The company, which produces iconic and market leading brands such as Wagon Wheels, Maryland Cookies, Jammie Dodgers and Cadbury biscuits, has just launched an apprenticeships programme. This follows a successful pilot at Burton’s Blackpool facility, where two apprentices are entering their third year, with a further eleven engineering apprentices commencing employment across Burton’s four sites this month. In addition, the company will be offering three placements each year to undergraduate students as part of the new MEng Food Engineering degree to be launched in September 2014, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and the Food and Drink Federation.

This investment is helping to drive continued growth for the company and its Power Brands, with international sales increasing year-on-year, and the company achieving record market share of the domestic sweet biscuit market. Simon Bourne, Head of Manufacturing at Burton’s Biscuit Company, said: “Investment in talent helps future proof our business and ensure we’re equipped for continued growth. As the industry becomes more technologically advanced, it presents significant opportunities for young people looking to develop a highly skilled career in what is a fast-moving and exciting environment.”

Burton’s is also investing in up-skilling its existing workforce through partnering with a number of academic organisations around the country to roll out training. In recent months, 75 percent of Burton’s Moreton employees have achieved an NVQ Engineering Maintenance Level 2 qualification, process operatives at our Llantarnam facility have commenced a technical up-skilling qualification in the use of hand tools, and a number of employees across all sites have completed Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) training. Additionally, over 80 members of middle management have achieved an ILM level 5 award, and the programme itself has recently been shortlisted for an IGD Learning and Development award.