OAL News
OAL supports further education in the food industry
OAL sponsored the award for Best Overall Performance on an Apprenticeship at the University of Lincoln’s graduation prize-giving event for the academic year 18/19.
Wednesday 11th September 2019 saw The University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) graduation prize-giving event for the academic year 18/19. This year marked the first year a cohort of students received their full technical degree through an apprenticeship route.
Harry Norman, OAL, presenting Sheryl with her award for ‘Best Overall Performance on an Apprenticeship’.
For the second year running OAL sponsored the award for Best Overall Performance on an Apprenticeship. The award was won by Bakkavor’s Product Development Apprentice, Sheryl Gamble, and was presented by OAL Managing Director, Harry Norman.
Sheryl graduated this year having completed her Level 6 Food Industry Technical Professional degree apprenticeship. The judges selected her for the prize due to her confidence, her ability to learn and her role as a great employer ambassador. Whilst working with Bakkavor, Sheryl has made a significant impact on the NPD department and has played a key role in boosting the wider collaboration with departments and customers.
The NCFM leads the way in part-time study for food industry employees and we have a close relationship, where a number of our team are currently studying there. They’ve also been a partner in developing our latest innovations, including our robot chef and our state-of-the-art Steam Infusion test centre.
Sam Norman, OAL, speaking at the ceremony.
“It’s an exciting time to work in the food industry with the developments in robotics and automation. Apprenticeships are a hugely valuable way to attract and develop the people who are the future of the industry. The degree apprenticeship route is a great partnership between an employee with the motivation to learn, a business willing to provide opportunities and an excellent learning provider like the University of Lincoln”
At OAL, around 12% of our employees are currently studying across multiple disciplines, from engineering and food science to marketing and finance. Our continuous dedication to education and supporting our employees earned us the title of SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards 2019 and we employee award-winning apprentices; personal and professional development is at the heart of the company.
If you want to become a part of our exciting journey as we shake up the food industry, take a look at our current vacancies! We’re always on the hunt for new talent to expand and grow our business.
Spotlight on a career as Assistant Management Accountant
Louise Gore is Assistant Management Accountant working within the Finance office. She lives in Huntingdon with her partner Neil and her son Owen.
Day in the life of…
Louise Gore
Louise Gore is Assistant Management Accountant working within the Finance office. She lives in Huntingdon with her partner Neil and her son Owen.
My alarm goes off…
At 6.30am and snoozed several times over! I then have a mad dash around the house to get ready and after several moans at my teenage son to get going, we’re both in the car and off by 8am.
I’m responsible for…
Many things finance related but over the past 6 months I have mainly been focusing on the looking after the company’s accounts to aid managerial planning and commercial decision-making, working closely with our Financial Controller.
I got the job…
Because I was in the right place, right time I believe. I had just been made redundant and saw the job advertised. I knew I was a good fit for the role, particularly with my existing qualifications so I was really pleased when I was offered the job!
My typical day…
Starts with going through any emails that have come through after I have left (I work part time). My work can change from day to day; I can be working with sales orders and chasing up timesheets to putting financial reports together for the management team to analyse departmental and overall performance.
My most memorable moment…
Can’t be pinned down to just one as I have had many in the finance office: contrary to popular belief finance is the place to be if you want to have good 'work-related' fun!
The worst part of my job is…
Filing…does anybody actually like it?!
The best part of my job is…
Working with such a knowledgeable team across the whole of OAL. Although I’m based in the finance office, I get to touch base with other departments throughout the week and see all the interesting things they are up to. It’s also great that we have so many training opportunities at OAL; I have started an apprenticeship to become ACCA qualified, which is really exciting!
After work…
If I’m not taxiing my son around to various places I like to relax with a good meal (generally made by Neil!) and maybe a glass of wine. The dog occasionally gets a walk too!
Looking for your next opportunity? We are always looking to grow the team with talented and ambitious individuals, so why not explore our careers to see what’s available!
Kyle Constable wins Apprentice of the Year at FDF Awards 2019
We are thrilled to announce that our Technical Sales Lead for Steam Infusion, Kyle Constable, has been named as the Apprentice of the Year at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) awards 2019!
We are thrilled to announce that our Technical Sales Lead for Steam Infusion, Kyle Constable, has been named as the Apprentice of the Year at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) awards 2019! Largely seen as the industry benchmark for innovation, competitiveness and talent, the awards ceremony saw Kyle fight off tough competition to be presented with the Apprentice of the Year accolade. With over 500 guests coming together to celebrate the achievements in the industry, this award is a true testament to the hard work put in by Kyle over the course of his apprenticeship so far.
Pioneers as potential industry leaders
The FDF Apprentice of the Year is awarded to the individual who has shown exceptional progress in both their skills and studies and are real pioneers with potential to become industry leaders. Kyle has been a degree apprentice with OAL for two years now, having originally joined as a Process Development Trainee. He excelled in his position and after only 10 months was promoted to Technical Sales Lead. He is currently completing a degree in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations Management at the University of Lincoln, all while promoting our innovative Steam Infusion technology across the UK and Europe.
But it isn’t just his own personal development that is so important to Kyle. He uses all his experience to show students that there are many different ways to be successful after leaving school and takes every opportunity to encourage them to consider a career in engineering. We are really pleased for Kyle and it is great to see that all his hard work has been recognised and has truly paid off.
Want to be part of something special?
We are very proud of our employees and are always looking for new people to join our team and support our growth at OAL. If you think you might be interested in an apprenticeship like Kyle, why not visit our apprenticeships page, or get in touch today to find out more about what we can offer.
SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Apprenticeship Awards 2019
We are honoured to announce that we have won the SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards 2019!
We are honoured to announce that we have won the SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards 2019! The awards aim to celebrate leading apprenticeship schemes in the local area – from the apprentices themselves, to the training providers and employees that support them. We are delighted to have received the accolade as we were up against some tough competitors from a variety of industries. It’s very rewarding to see that our dedication to education and supporting our employees has been recognised by the judges.
Passionate about employees
Here at OAL we are passionate about encouraging our employees in both their personal and professional development, and often support them to complete apprenticeships and degrees while working. Currently in our company of around 65 employees, 12% are studying across multiple disciplines. We feel that this approach – working and earning a salary whilst completing valuable qualifications and developing industry knowledge – benefits both our employees and the company as learnings can be put into practice from day one.
Great facilities to aid apprenticeships
Our partnership with the University of Lincoln, who were recently named number 17 in The Guardian’s University league tables for 2020, and their satellite campus at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) in Holbeach, means that our apprentices have access to modern and innovative facilities, with the opportunity to get hands-on with experiments and trials. The NCFM, which is seen as a national exemplar for its apprenticeship provision, is home to our revolutionary Steam Infusion test centre where apprentices can get involved in the experiments and understand how the system works by experiencing one-to-one training.
Not only do our apprentices get access to the facilities of leading institutions in the UK, they also receive dedicated training from industry experts. Our passion for growth and development means we ensure apprentices get the best of both worlds, with access to great facilities with committed teachers, whilst being part of an exciting, welcoming and innovative team.
Want to know more?
Would you like to be part of an award-winning team that encourages personal and professional opportunities? We pride ourselves on our commitment to supporting the development of our teams and are always on the lookout for talented individuals to join us. Why not take a look at our latest vacancies to see if you could begin your career at OAL!
OAL boosts manufacturer productivity at PPMA 2019
OAL is sponsoring the Networking Zone for a second year running at the PPMA Total Show 2019. We’ll also be showcasing our innovative robotics and automation solutions, as well as our patented cooking technology over the course of the three days.
Stand A130 - Networking Zone, PPMA, NEC Birmingham, United Kingdom, 1-3 October 2019
OAL is sponsoring the Networking Zone for a second year running at the PPMA Total Show 2019. We’ll also be showcasing our innovative robotics and automation solutions, as well as our patented cooking technology over the course of the three days. Visiting the stand, you’ll be able to experience how the APRIL Eye artificial intelligence-based label and date code verification solution replicates human vision and learn from our experts about how our solutions can improve your productivity.
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve also been shortlisted for an award in the Outstanding Customer Service category for the excellent work that our support team puts in with our OAL Connected customers - fingers crossed we win!
Eyeing up productivity improvements
As the UK continues to deal with a productivity crisis, we are demonstrating how our solutions can support you in delivering increased outputs. APRIL Eye, the world’s first artificial intelligence-based vision system for label and date code verification, will be in action on the stand, so you can see for yourself how the technology prevents the wrong date codes from entering the supply chain while maximising throughput. Running at speeds of over 1,000 packs a minute, the system ensures full protection of your production line without compromising on volumes.
APRIL Eye combines machine learning and artificial intelligence to transform the traditional date code verification process. Rather than relying on operators to check the date code is printed correctly, APRIL Eye automates the process using basic cameras backed up with an artificial brain. This vision system can deal with variations such as lighting, positioning, print quality and placement, which are inherent in a food or beverage plant and read anything that is also legible to the naked eye. In this way, APRIL Eye eliminates errors, offers full traceability and protects consumers and brands while at the same time reducing labour costs and waste. The system also improves over time, further safeguarding your operations.
Steaming ahead
Our experts will be on hand to explain how Steam Infusion’s patented technology can double production capacity and halve CIP time in the production of soups, sauces and dairy desserts to maximise productivity. Steam Infusion is an advanced food processing technology that can heat 1,000kg of product from 15°C to 90°C in under 10 minutes with no burn-on or particulate damage. A unique form of steam injection, the patented design of the Steam Infusion Vaction™ pump uses steam as the motive force to heat, mix and pump liquids with and without particulates. High operating costs are prevented thanks to lower energy usage based on Steam Infusion’s highly efficient energy transfer as well as reduced maintenance and removal of condensate management, allowing you to further boost your bottom line.
Weighing up the benefits
If you visit our stand, you’ll also be able to try your hand at manually weighing powders accurately. Manual handling and weighing of ingredients can cost up to one per cent of your turnover. However, by automating ingredient handling and storage with the APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling system, you can reduce labour costs while eliminating cross-contamination and maximising traceability and accuracy to improve productivity.
Combining robotics and advanced automation, the APRIL Robotics Ingredient Handling system offers a flexible and scalable solution that delivers an accurate and cost-effective alternative to operators on the factory floor. The system automatically weighs powders to an accuracy up to +/- 1g at weigh-up rates of up to 1,000kg/hr. It can also deal with a wide weighing range without any mechanical change components, reducing the risk of downtime caused by machine stoppages or breakdown. The cells have a turndown of 1,000 to 1 while maintaining the highest level of accuracy and zero product cross-contamination risk - increasing traceability and improving food safety. Offering high flexibility, the system can be easily integrated into your existing footprint.