An award-winning Welsh company that supplies fresh and exotic vegetables to UK food manufacturing and foodservice industries is celebrating a major accolade for its employment policies.
Beacon Foods is one of 25 companies from across the UK chosen to receive an Age Positive Award 2006, a scheme promoted by the Department of Work and Pensions.
The Age Positive initiative recognises UK employers who challenge attitudes and stereotypes against both older and younger workers.
Beacon Foods employs a multi-national and mixed age workforce of 110 at its food processing plant in Brecon. Rae Jones, founder and director of Beacon Foods, said: “We employ people aged from 18 to 62 years and find the wide spectrum of ages in our workforce brings together different point of view, attitudes and outlook.
“We treat all our employees the same and it’s the company’s policy to promote people on merit rather than based on their age.
“As an Investor in people, we encourage employees of all ages to participate in NVQ training to develop their skills. For example, one of our team leaders, Doreen Miller, is 63 and she has trained to operate a forklift.”
Beacon Foods produces more than 500 ingredients for leading food manufacturers and food service companies that supply national supermarket chains, the retail grocery trade, restaurants, pub chains, airlines and rail companies.
