Milk Link Invests in the Dairy Technologists of the Future

Known as ‘Eden’, the innovative initiative is the result of collaboration between dairy industry employers, Dairy UK, the National Skills Academy and Reaseheath College, and is designed to produce world-class staff for tomorrow’s dairy industry.

13 Oct 2009 --- Milk Link has announced that it is participating in a groundbreaking dairy education initiative to provide a foundation degree level qualification for dairy processing and manufacturing personnel. Two Milk Link employees will be supported through the course at Reaseheath College in Nantwich, Cheshire this year.

Known as ‘Eden’, the innovative initiative is the result of collaboration between dairy industry employers, Dairy UK, the National Skills Academy and Reaseheath College, and is designed to produce world-class staff for tomorrow’s dairy industry.

The two successful Milk Link employees are Craig Hodgson, Technical Manager at Lockerbie Creamery in Dumfriesshire, Scotland and Halfdan Bunch, Cheesemaker from Tuxford & Tebbutt Creamery in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Milk Link hopes to be able to put two employees on the course each year.

Craig and Halfdan began their three years of study at Reaseheath College this month.  They will study dairy theory, science and have an opportunity to develop their practical skills.  The remainder of the time will be spent ‘hands on’ in Milk Link where on-the-job training will complement their academic studies. The new qualification they will receive will become the benchmark across Europe, taking the UK Dairy Education programme to the highest level in vocational training.

Mike Kelly, Milk Link’s HR Manager and part of the ‘Eden’ Steering Group said: “Milk Link is pleased and proud to be part of this exciting new initiative. We are a business which recognises that employees with state-of-the-art training and expertise are central to building a successful business for the future. Taking a wider view, this is also brilliant news for the UK dairy sector as it will ensure that the dairy industry remains competitive at a global level.

“Milk Link has had a hand in the development of the curriculum and the new £2 million pound research dairy at Reaseheath College, demonstrating our commitment to this project. We are keen to see how Craig and Halfdan develop as they progress through the course and pick up new skills and knowledge.”

Craig Hodgson, Technical Manager at Lockerbie Creamery and one of the new students adds: “This is a great opportunity for me to hone my skills and get a degree level qualification in dairy technology. I’m really thankful to Milk Link for giving me this opportunity.”