One of the UK's leading producers of fresh milk and cream is leading the way in the development of workers — by providing free English language lessons.
The lessons will be given to employees at Okehampton-based Robert Wiseman Dairies in a bid to improve the language skills of both British and foreign workers.
Production manager and training organiser for the Okehampton site Bobby Burgoyne said all the students involved deserved great credit for their success in completing the Devon Adult Community Learning English @ work scheme.
He said: 'This is the second set of ten-week English language courses we have run here at Wiseman's during the past year.'
The company prides itself on its internal training and development programmes and has achieved excellent results from Osfted inspections this year.
Mr Burgoyne said tutor for the course Iwona Knockhaert built a good rapport with the students during the last training course, with continuous development and training being the key to successful businesses.
'Iwona received positive feedback from both students and management and we are continually striving to acheive this at Wiseman's.'
Mr Burgoyne said speaking the basics of English was crucial to all workers in their understanding of health and safety, working instructions, completing documentation and personal development within the organisation.
'We are taking the initiative in assisting the development of workers in conjunction with English @ work and are looking forward to continued training and development success at the Okehampton site and nationally during 2009'.
Wiseman's took over the Peninsula Milk site on Exeter Road Industrial Estate in 2006 and currently employs around 170 staff.
Production at the site has increased and it processes, bottles and delivers up to one million litres of milk or cream a week for a host of large multiple retailers, food manufacturers and smaller retail outlets throughout the UK.
The company, whose clotted cream is produced under the Wiseman Definitely Devon label for supermarkets and smaller retail sales outlets, is going from strength to strength with its on site development and training.
Pictured right are Bobby Burgoyne, production manager and training organiser for Robert Wiseman Dairies, congratulating Iwona Knockheart, tutor, on another successful set of English language courses. Also shown are some of the students, Majka Grabarska, Pryemyslaw Zwolinski, Marcin Szkudlarek, Joanna Stefanik, Katarzyna Borkowska and Wojciech Skowronski.