A top bakery has launched a search for a new batch of rising stars.<\/p>\n
The fast-growing Jones Village Bakery in Wrexham is aiming to recruit 30 new apprentices over the next two years.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s part of a major expansion by the family firm who have just invested \u00a316 million in a new, high-tech production line and announced plans to create a total of 100 extra jobs.<\/p>\n
The state-of-the-art equipment has been installed at the company\u2019s new 140,000 sq ft bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate.<\/p>\n
The headquarters complex is also home to their ground-breaking Baking Academy and Innovation Centre.<\/p>\n
The company has a track record of growing their own and most of their bakery managers and supervisors have come through the ranks.<\/p>\n
The practical training sessions are run by bakery specialist Paul Andrew who is a qualified assessor with Coleg Cambria with whom they have partnered to deliver the apprenticeships.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI enjoy teaching the apprentices, it\u2019s my favourite bit. Some of the best people we have in our business have come through the apprenticeship scheme, all the way through to being bakery managers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not just employing people. We\u2019re investing in these guys to make them a better version of themselves so they can deliver the quality we need.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Village People are our secret ingredient because most of the managers most of the supervisors have trodden this path.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the current crop of apprentices is Tilly Squire, aged 16, who says she\u2019s loving every minute at the Jones Village Bakery.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI went to college for a little bit and I just found that it wasn\u2019t really for me. I wanted to go out and earn my own money and the Village Bakery was looking for people so it just worked out well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went straight onto the adult wage so I get the same as everybody else because I do the same work. I don\u2019t get paid less because I\u2019m younger.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things I like about working here is that I\u2019m treated with respect. When I left school, I applied for loads of jobs. I got turned down a lot because of my age.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they don\u2019t see me any differently here just because I\u2019m a lot younger. There\u2019s no age discrimination here\u00a0– all they see is potential, which is nice.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I\u2019m enrolled on the apprenticeship scheme which I\u2019m really excited about. It\u2019s going well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really chuffed because I\u2019m the youngest that\u2019s ever done it as well so I\u2019m making a little bit of Village Bakery history at the same time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn five years\u2019, time I\u2019d like to have worked my way up or made it to a higher position so I\u2019ll just work as hard as I can.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the Village Bakery there is a career path for you to progress, and I do enjoy working here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow apprentice Callum Whitfield, 25, says he\u2019s also relishing the opportunity.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s an exciting place to work with everything going on here, the new products that we\u2019re launching. We\u2019re making some great stuff at the moment, we really are.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the apprenticeship scheme, we learn about practical baking in the test kitchen, getting real hands-on experience of craft baking and learning about the theory behind making bread and the different products.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the managers and the supervisors at the Village Bakery are homegrown, that\u2019s s what they like to do so there is a great career path here.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the products as well. They\u2019re fantastic and I buy Village Bakery bread on my days off. It says it all really. So, I\u2019ve bought into it literally.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud to be one of the Village People. It\u2019s a great community of people who are working here, and you make friends for life, you really do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Group HR manager Jason Page said: \u201cThe current cohort of apprentices are studying for a Level 2 bakery qualification which is the first stepping stone on their path. Hopefully they\u2019ll move on from that to do a Level 3 and then the sky\u2019s the limit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Jones Village Bakery is an extremely successful business and we are growing at a rate of knots. We\u2019re growing sustainably and through quality products and through a great relationship with our customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe apprenticeship scheme is what the Village Bakery is all about, bringing talent in, growing them and then having them ready to be the next generation of bakery managers and supervisors supporting the growth of this business.<\/p>\n
“We are now looking for our next crop of apprentices because that is the best way for us to succeed and grow as a business. They are the future of the Jones Village Bakery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Managing director Robin Jones added: \u201cWe\u2019re not necessarily looking for people with fantastic qualifications.\u00a0 We just want people who are driven, who want to learn and who are passionate about baking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn return, we have fantastic training facilities and we can provide a chance of a great career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anybody who would like to know more should email Jason Page at <\/strong>Recruitment@villagebakery.co.uk<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n