Dairy firm expands workforce after HR support

Wholesale dairy supplier Stephensons Food & Dairy has increased its workforce by 40 per cent thanks to a specialist HR support programme.

The Morecambe-based business has expanded its headcount from three to five and is planning further recruitment after benefiting from Lancashire LEAP’s HR Coaching Support initiative, which is available through Boost Business Lancashire.

Stephensons Food & Dairy is also looking to expand its activities to include own-brand dairy products.

The programme involved director Steph Stephenson attending a series of HR seminars as well as one-to-one coaching sessions with experienced HR experts from training provider Community & Business Partners.

The programme covered all aspects of HR management including recruitment and employment practices, policies and procedures, along with checking and improving employment contracts.

Steph commented: “The support I have received has been excellent; the advice and practical nitty-gritty information was actionable straightaway. I would absolutely recommend every business to take part in business support programmes.

She added: “We heard about the Lancashire LEAP initiative after receiving a leaflet through the post and got in touch with Sarah Walmsley at Community & Business Partners, who told us about the HR sessions.”

Stephensons Food & Dairy has a turnover of more than £600,000 and is based in Southgate on White Lund Industrial Estate.

The company has already benefited from the HR programme in a number of key areas such as assessing workforce training needs for all staff, and attending social media workshops to drive online marketing activity, as well as self-promotion and brand awareness.

In addition, Steph and her team are developing fresh approaches to developing their people by introducing an appraisal system and recruiting another apprentice to encourage home-grown talent in their workforce.

The company is also looking to access high speed broadband from Superfast Lancashire, and hopes to work with Lancaster and Morecambe College on apprentice recruitment, along with the county council’s manufacturing sector support service.

Jane Houghton-Fenning, business development director at Community & Business Partners commented: “Steph was fully appreciative of the in-depth diagnostic undertaken by Sarah and time spent discussing and capturing how they wanted to develop the business.

“She was amazed at the quality of the free support available and utilised it to the best advantage. They have embraced the ideas, learned new things and are developing and growing the business. We are confident they will continue to be successful.” To apply for support through Boost Business Lancashire, visit the website at www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk or call 0800 488 0057.