Yearsley Logistics wins regional skills award

Ryan Brandon, Tim Moran and Will Maycock from Yearsley Logistics

Yearsley Logistics, a large frozen food logistics business based in Heywood, beat off stiff competition from other Greater Manchester businesses to win a Greater Manchester Skills for Business award in the logistics skills category.

Tim Moran, Logistics Director from Yearsley Group picked up the award at an awards ceremony last Thursday 3 July at The Hilton Hotel Manchester Deansgate hosted by Irish comedian and presenter of TV’s The Apprentice, You’re Fired!, Dara O Briain who compèred the event.

The company, which employs 1,200 people, supply major retailers as well as offering a food service distribution network utilising 13 sites in strategic locations around the UK. An essential part of Yearsley’s succession planning is the development of a high-skilled employees. Yearsley actively recruits young local people who can join the workforce and develop skills linked to the customer’s needs and requirements.

Commenting on the award win, Tim Moran, Logistics Director said: “We provide a comprehensive training plan for apprentices, where they spend time in all departments so they really understand how the business functions. We also give each new start a mentor, so that skills, knowledge and good practice can be shared across the company. Embedding a training culture into the business and ensuring that employees at all levels buy into it, and benefit from it, has been great for our company.”

Rachel Shorrock from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said: “Yearsley Logistics has benefited significantly from having an apprenticeship scheme. By taking on some of the administrative burden, the two apprentices have increased office efficiency by 5-10 per cent. Training has also had a noticeable impact on employee morale. Increasing the workforce has meant productivity has improved and staff are less stressed by providing a better, more supportive working environment. This company is an excellent example of good practice.”

In total 70 Greater Manchester organisations or individuals were shortlisted in 17 categories.

The jury panel comprised of some of the region’s most notable representatives from the learning and skills sector including Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Employment and Skills at Manchester City Council; Mike Blackburn, the chair of the Learning and Enterprise Partnership in Greater Manchester and Regional Director for BT; Rachael Beasley, FE Work Based Learning Account Manager at Pearson Work Based Learning; Paul Holme, Skills Policy Advisor at New Economy and David Teale, Chief Executive of North of England Excellence.

The awards are created through collaboration between the Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network (GMPLN), Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) and New Economy (NE).

The headline sponsor for the Greater Manchester Skills for Business Awards 2014 is Pearson Work Based Learning and other sponsors include Manchester Metropolitan University, Salford Business School and Greater Manchester Colleges Group (GMCG). Other partners include Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Apprenticeships and North of England Excellence.