Baking Academy and Innovation Centre Our Vision We

Baking Academy and Innovation Centre

Our Vision… * We want to be known for our dedicated team of quality bakers and staff who use the best ingredients to deliver the best bakery products * We want to grow and improve our business in a sustainable manner * We want to be recognised as a family business that continuously invests in the future through the development of its people, equipment and processes …we just needed the facilities

Planning Stages

The Result

The official opening of Village Bakery Baking Academy by their Royal Highnessess The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall July 2015

Training We believe in development and to ‘grow your own’ so provide apprenticeship programmes for Baking and Engineering Bakery Apprenticeships NVQ L 2 & L 3 2014 – 11 Apprentices 2015 – 11 Apprentices Engineering Apprenticeships NVQ L 3 2014 – 2 Apprentices 2015 – 3 Apprentices Bakery Apprentice of the Year Darryl Stephenson & Engineering Apprentice of the Year Tim Pluves

Training We have seen apprentices develop into Bakery Supervisors/Managers and this year celebrated by doing an award ceremony to say thank you for all their effort Each apprentice was provided with a Silver V as a recognition of their hard work and commitment to the Company

Looking Forward • Invest more time building relationships with Universities and Colleges • Provide open evenings for the public to attend and learn what we do, use them as recruitment opportunities • Attend Job fairs/career fairs • Partner with Suppliers to assist with training and development of staff

Challenges along the way • Lack of integration between the different Baking associations • Lack of knowledge and communication in the industry • Unable to find information on available training providers and what is out there for employers to help develop their staff

Taking it Further Paying the Living Wage to all staff It has cost a total of £ 350, 000 to implement the Living Wage

Taking it further Bringing customers in to use the facilities to learn how to bake the perfect product instore • 20 Stores attended over 2 days: • Aintree, Birkenhead, Cheshire Oaks, Chester, Eagles Meadow Wrexham, Gemini, Liverpool, Llandudno, New Mersey Speke, Northwich, Prestatyn, Warrington, Widnes, Shrewsbury, St. Helens, Heswell SF, Manai Bangor SF, Oswestry, Meol Brace Shrewsbury SF, Prescott Cables SF

Head Baker Workshop Back to School

Head Baker Workshop The Village Bake Off

Questions? What benefit does paying the Living Wage have? What is the benefit of using suppliers for training? With trailblazers coming into action in England, what support is there in Wales?