What’s it all about then?

You’ll be responsible for organising the learning and professional development of the workforce, which will entail assessing the skills and knowledge of the staff and determining the sort of training programmes needed to develop these skills further.

You’ll likely conduct some of the training yourself and also co-ordinate specialist training as needed.

You’ll also be instrumental in developing leadership and executive development programmes for future senior managers and you might also have a role mentoring graduate trainees in your company.

What might I be doing?

This will depend on the size of the company you work for but will include:

• Identifying your company’s training and development needs using job analysis, appraisal schemes and consultation with other managers
• Designing and co-ordinating training and development programmes based on identified needs
• Ensuring that all programmes offer value for money and a measureable return on investment
• Developing effective induction programmes to ensure legislative compliance
• Devising individual learning plans for all levels of staff
• Producing training materials for in-house courses
• Evaluating training and development programmes and revising these if needed
• Helping line management solve specific training needs
• Researching new developments in legislation and making sure all training continues to meet with these requirements
• Researching new technologies and methodologies in workplace learning and implementing as required

What will be expected of me?

You’ll likely be employed in a strategic role by your company as food manufacturers have taken on board the significant benefits brought by a well trained and motivated workforce.

You’ll need to be able to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and you will have strong problem solving and negotiation skills.

You will also need to be able to think strategically and plan accordingly and, at the same time, balance this with the day to day management and evaluation of company training delivery

What can I expect?

Whilst you will typically work between the hours of 8am and 530pm, should your company work shifts then you will need to accommodate training delivery to suit various shift patterns.

If your company has more than one site you can expect some travel.

As a training manager you can expect to be able to develop your own skills through time in order to transfer your knowledge to others

What about the pay?

Depending on experience and the food sub-sector in which you are employed, you will earn between £22,000 and £40,000 and this will increase with seniority and promotion.

As a senior training manager in a large food company you could earn significantly more than this.

What qualifications do I need to get in?

For a career as a Training Manager working in Food Manufacturing a degree in a food related subject would be useful, particularly when it comes to managing and delivering food industry specific skills.

Other qualifications you could consider would those in business, psychology or human resources.

Relevant experience and skills within a particular area may also serve as an effective means of entry but for the management role a degree level qualification is likely to be the minimum expected.

What about further training?

Although a postgraduate qualification is not necessary, a Masters degree or diploma recognised by the CIPD will improve your career prospects

Specialisation in training and development often follows general personnel experience, and new graduates are not always recruited straight into a training role. It is also fairly common to work your way up from roles such as assistant training officer or administration assistant.

Additionally while membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)  is not essential, but it is often valued by employers.

Anything else I might need to know?

Yes, many training professionals become self-employed consultants and specialise in specific areas of expertise (such as Health & Safety) and you could consider this as an alternative option to working for one particular employer.

Training is no longer seen as a reaction to legal changes and has thus a well qualified and experienced training manager is a valuable asset to their business.

To reach the highest levels in training, you’ll need to show great personal achievements and it may be necessary to move from small organisations to larger ones in order to progress.