Today (4th April), British Sugar welcomed the Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills, as part of his tour of Norfolk companies which are emblematic of the Government’s industrial and upcoming Agri-Technology strategy.
The visit provided an ideal opportunity to demonstrate British Sugar’s approach to advanced and sustainable manufacturing and Business Secretary Vince Cable said “Our Agricultural-technology sector is a vital part of the UK’s economy and British Sugar is a prime example of the innovative work this sector does. Later this year, we will be publishing our agri-tech industrial strategy which will highlight how Government can work in a long-term partnership with industry to support emerging technologies, develop the skills businesses need and improve business confidence for investment and growth.”
The tour not only included an overview of the sugar processing operation, but also examples of how British Sugar has moved beyond sugar by expanding the range of co-products produced by focusing on driving efficiencies and using raw materials as effectively as possible to minimise waste, including; the power generation system that produces both steam and electricity, called a Combined Heat & Power Plant (CHP) and recognised as one of the most fuel-efficient processes available; the UK’s first renewable Bioethanol Refinery; the award-winning horticulture business, Cornerways, benefiting from its close location to the factory by utilising hot water from the CHP and waste carbon dioxide during photosynthesis of the tomatoes.
But at the heart of any industry, it is people that make the difference. British Sugar continues to support a multi-skilled workforce with specialists in engineering, business, finance and agriculture, and over the past ten years recruited and trained over 100 graduates and 90 apprentices. During the tour, apprentices from the Wissington operation shared their experiences and why they had chosen a modern Apprenticeship Scheme.
Dr Mark Carr, Group Chief Executive of AB Sugar, said “I am extremely proud to be able to share how the production of the home-grown sugar industry contributes to the UK’s rural and agricultural economy, whilst demonstrating how utilising all our raw materials, new technologies and skills and capabilities of our people can achieve sustainable growth. Looking to the future, maintaining quotas to at least 2020 will provide our industry with the opportunity to continue to invest in further advanced manufacturing in pursuit of achieving a globally competitive and sustainable operation”.
To view the British Sugar press release, please
click here.
Launch of the ultimate graduate scheme – a truly international experience
To support our vision of becoming the world’s leading sugar business, today (March 11th) we have launched our international graduate scheme offering talented and passionate individuals the opportunity to make a real contribution to the overall success of the group.
Working within environments across our businesses that are both stimulating and challenging, from our factories in the UK and Spain, to our fields in Africa and operations in China, individuals will be able to accelerate their development and training, whilst gaining the valuable experience and skills that comes with immersing themselves in each of the different businesses and working with colleagues from different cultures.
Our scheme begins with a comprehensive induction programme and cultural skills training, before commencing overseas placements. Through the scheme, individuals will have an opportunity to take responsibility for real improvement, development and investment projects, whilst learning what it takes to keep an operation running in widely different cultures, experiencing both sugar beet and sugar cane production process in our four distinct geographies of Africa, China, Spain and the UK.
For further information on our scheme, please visit:
www.absugargraduate.com