Our Neighbourhood Support Officer facilitated a unique opportunity for some of the participants at Wesley Hall to embark on a community work tour at Walkers & Son, which was orchestrated by our dedicated champion, Tracy Renshaw. This exclusive chance allowed us to accompany a group of 7 ladies along with Raj, a staff member at Wesley Hall who graciously provided transportation and served as a translator throughout the tour due to language barriers the ladies faced.
During the tour, we had the privilege of delving behind the scenes in the factory and gaining insight into the food production processes for major stores such as Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Aldi, and Lidl. We observed the considerable amount of manual labour involved alongside the use of large-scale machines.
Our tour was expertly led by John Neat, a professional in the industry. He guided us through two sections of the factory. Firstly, we explored the production side where meat is processed, and pastries are made and cooked. We then visited the packaging side, which showcased the quality checks and packaging processes for the final products sold in stores.
The group was thoroughly captivated by the tour, finding it both informative and inspiring to witness the collaborative efforts of various teams contributing to the production process. One member of the group expressed, “I really enjoyed the tour, and it seems like a place that I would want to work at in the future. I feel like I will really fit in.”
The primary objective of the tour was to provide the participants with an understanding of the available job roles and to dismiss any fears about seeking employment with large organisations. It was emphasised that the process of securing employment with these companies is straightforward, and that support is available through agencies.
I really enjoyed the tour, and it seems like a place that I would want to work at in the future. I feel like I will really fit in
Wesley Hall participant