Training gets to the heart of Greencore Grocery: Welcoming and open culture replaces one of skepticism and suspicion

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a training program, devised and delivered by training and development company Courageous Success, which has transformed manufacturing at Greencore Grocery.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the reasons for the program, the form it took and the results it has achieved.

Findings

The paper details how the training had to help Greencore Grocery people to be: happy and more confident; better communicators; energetic and enthusiastic leaders; and comfortable with managing poor performance. The program also had to: support a cultural shift by running alongside a restructuring program; lift the performance of the operations function at the site; build relationships and improve ways of working; introduce and support a culture of positivity and non‐directive communication styles of management to deliver better performance; and introduce tools and processes to the business that could be integrated and maintained to support and embed the program learning and journey into the future.

Practical implications

The paper reveals that, as a result of the training, budgeted profit was achieved and is now exceeded year on year; productivity is up 16 percent; waste is down 36 percent; cost per unit is down 8 percent; employees take ownership of their areas and responsibility for their teams; the culture on the site is welcoming and open; the emphasis on both skills training and individual‐coaching techniques has been identified as “best in class” by Greencore and the company, along with Courageous Success, was a finalist for Training Program of the Year in last November's Food Manufacturing Excellence awards.

Social implications

The paper advances the view that employees learned techniques that improved their lives.

Originality/value

The paper reveals how well conceived training can transform people's attitudes and boost business success.

Citation

(2012), "Training gets to the heart of Greencore Grocery: Welcoming and open culture replaces one of skepticism and suspicion", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 20 No. 6, pp. 6-9. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670731211260799