LIZ KENDALL, MP FOR LEICESTER WEST, MEETS SAMWORTH BROTHERS APPRENTICES
On Friday 14th February, during National Apprenticeship Week, Rt. Hon. Liz Kendall – MP for Leicester West and Secretary of State for Work & Pensions – met seven Samworth Brothers apprentices and four development chefs to hear about their personal experiences and how they came into their roles. Samworth Brothers is currently recruiting for 10 Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance (FDEM) apprentices across its businesses, as well as candidates for its Technical Graduate Development Programme and Technical Higher-Level Apprenticeships (HLAs).
Among the apprentices Liz met, were two current FDEM apprentices, who recommended their early careers path as a chance to learn both theory and practical experience, being paid as they gain their qualifications. The Secretary of State for Work & Pensions also met five other apprentices doing a variety of programmes including: Jeanette Leonor, (People Administrator) a level three apprentice in Human Resources Support; Carl Yadav, Charlotte Hubbard, Katherine Nethercott – underway on level five Operations Manager apprenticeships; as well as Jordga Russell-Wilson, who recently completed a level six Food Industry Technical Professional apprenticeship. Jordga is now working at Bradgate Bakery Ashton Green (part of the Samworth Brothers Group) as a Process Development Technologist.
In 2024, the family-owned Leicestershire business enrolled ten Food & Drink Engineering Apprentices, making a total of 31 engineering apprentices in development to address the engineering talent shortage in the UK. The Group is committed to recruit and train 60 over a 5-year period and is now in the third year.
Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West says:
“It was inspiring to see such a brilliant local business, Samworth Brothers, creating vital apprenticeship opportunities for people in Leicester.
“Ensuring that everyone, especially young people, in Leicester are earning or learning is a key priority for me both locally and nationally.
“It’s wonderful to see local businesses leading the way in matching this ambition”.
Jo Werth, Head of People and Group Executive Board Member for Samworth Brothers says,
“Last week, we held various events across our sites to celebrate our talented and committed apprentices. We are tremendously proud to have 270 live apprentices in an amazing variety of roles from engineering and supply chain, to finance and human resources, procurement and packaging, butchery, warehouse management, HGV driving and vehicle maintenance. We fund their tuition fees and pay a competitive adult salary at the same time, so our apprentices have no university debt upon completion and can accept a paid permanent position if they choose to.”
Liz also met four development chefs, including Edvinas Smigelskis and Harry Dempster, both award-winners in the most recent Sammies – the prestigious Sandwich & Food to Go Industry Awards. The chefs are based at Bradgate Bakery, which employs nearly two thousand colleagues and is part of Samworth Brothers’ Food to Go category, making sandwiches and salads for major multiple retailers.
Anyone interested in learning more about Samworth Brothers Early Careers should go to: https://careers.samworthbrothers.co.uk/early-careers.aspx