EEDA initiatives pay dividends for Parripak

Following the success of their senior manager’s Leadership and Training programme, the directors of Beds-based Parripak Foods have recently broken new ground by enrolling their entire Board onto a Competitive Strategy Masterclass, run by Professor Colin Coulson Thomas, Professor of Competitiveness at the University of Luton.

For two days, Professor Coulson Thomas analysed Parripak’s Business Plans, the company structure and its people. Monthly classes then followed, where the ‘students’ and the Professor worked together to formulate an action plan to strengthen customer relations and plug skills shortages for the future.

James Parrish, joint managing director of Parripak Foods was extremely enthusiastic about the project and said, " We are firm believers in the principles of the latest EEDA initiative which focuses on the need to increase skills in the workplace, so it was only natural that our Board members should keep their own skills up to date." He added, "The Masterclass focused on developing strategies to improve and strengthen customer service and helped us identify possible skills shortages. "

The Masterclass is partly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the programme is customised specifically for larger corporations with up to 250 employees.

Added Parrish, "Although it was sometimes difficult to fit in the ‘homework’ with the day-to-day running of the business, the time invested in this Masterclass has definitely paid dividends. In these days of economic decline, if companies are to survive they must move outside of their comfort zone, and actively search for ways of differentiating themselves from their competitors. Our Board has been revitalised and we are looking forward to putting our new dynamic plans into action and continue to build upon our year-on year-growth well into the future."