Peterborough-based MDS is a leading training provider, its highly-focused approach covering every element of the supply chain.
As a consortium of like-minded companies, MDS works in the best interests of the fresh food and produce industry to ensure a steady supply of junior managers with experience, skill and potential.
As mentioned in previous articles, graduates are appointed to the MDS programme after a rigorous recruitment process. They go through two years of intensive training and development that includes four secondments with different member companies as well as formal off-the-job learning.
Member companies share the costs, working together to attract, train and retain a constant supply of high-calibre management recruits - a pool of keen young managers ahead of the game who invariably find a top post on completion of the programme.
The strength of MDS comes from members working in partnership with a common goal, a vision that became reality thanks to a small group of growers who almost 20 years ago had the foresight to create this unique organisation.
Founder members include The Shropshire Group based in Cambridgeshire. Its senior management team today includes several former MDS graduates.
Among them is Julius Joel, supply chain director for G’s Marketing, part of the group, who sits on the MDS Board. He was one of the first to complete the programme in the 1980s, as was Jonathan Tremayne, now G’s md.
Tremayne said: “MDS is without shadow of doubt a good route for people wanting to join the industry. It opened up a lot of avenues that perhaps weren’t apparent at the time, but subsequently brought many opportunities. It gave me a broader awareness of what was available and was a catalyst for my own career development.”
The Shropshire Group has its own training scheme that runs concurrently with its membership of MDS, a substantial investment by any standards. Tremayne believes the two complement each other.
“Our own people come through many routes and there is an element of talent spotting among established employees and seasonal workers who we think have potential,” he added. Unlike MDS, there is no real age limit and many will not have been to university. Many of them go on to attend the off-the-job training courses offered by MDS to its own trainees. “The two together means we have people ready to step into key jobs as needed.”
MDS is helping break down barriers by showing the fresh produce industry as a dynamic, fast-moving environment which needs talented and enthusiastic young people. Today’s emphasis on healthy eating and the government’s efforts to educate parents and children is also helping raise the profile. Graduates from all disciplines are welcome compared to the early years, when they came mostly from land-based and horticultural backgrounds.
For companies who don’t have their own training scheme, MDS fulfils an even more important role.
Flavourfresh Salads, a specialist grower of tomatoes, in Cheshire, joined the consortium less than a year ago and is already reaping the benefits.
Its first MDS secondment completed a much-needed project on packhouse efficiency with several of her recommendations being implemented to good effect. Its current trainee has enabled the company to reinstate the job of harvesting co-ordinator, a vital link between packhouse and nursery staff that had been discontinued because of pressure of work.
Managing director Mick Fradsham, who reports to a Board representing three local growers who own the company - John Jackson, Keith Ball and Len Wright - is impressed by the calibre and capabilities of trainees. “We are not big enough to have our own graduate training scheme and MDS fills that gap,” he said.
“MDS trainees have the right attitude and ability to make a real difference and they’ve been like a breath of fresh air with new ideas and enthusiasm that has rubbed off on others. They are receptive, quick to learn and I am enjoying my new role as secondment manager.”
Fradsham had previous experience of MDS in the 1980s while working for another member company. “Our big problem has been finding the right people and most of my management team have come straight from college so they are learning as they go along. That’s OK to a certain extent but the MDS option means we have the opportunity to tap into a pool of labour which can be effective from day one.
“It was a big financial investment for us but MDS offers very good value for money and we have to think to the future and ensure we have all our key roles covered.” In addition to 15 varieties of tomato, Flavourfresh also grows indoor strawberries and has just planted an acre of blueberries. But expansion brings opportunity and challenge.
“We have the product and we have the customers - what we don’t always have is the right people,” Mick added. “We’ve tried careers fairs, school visits and advertising but there is a definite image problem and youngsters have no idea of the variety of jobs available.
“We are delighted with our experience of MDS so far and I would certainly recommend it to others. MDS takes away all the worry and they will be amazed at the calibre of trainee available to them.”
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