This year\u2019s Learning at Work Week theme, \u201cMany ways to learn\u201d, highlights something that is especially true across the food industry: people learn in different ways, at different stages of their careers, and in different working environments. In food manufacturing, learning doesn\u2019t only happen in formal training sessions. It happens during audits, production meetings, problem-solving conversations, onboarding, refresher sessions, mentoring, and everyday experiences on site. Creating opportunities for learning in different forms can help teams build confidence, strengthen food safety culture, and support more consistent ways of working across organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As training experts, we believe effective training should support these different ways of learning by making learning practical, accessible, relevant, and engaging for real food industry environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learning looks different for everyone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning needs can vary significantly from one business to the next. Some team members may be completely new to the industry, others may have years of operational experience but want to strengthen their technical knowledge or refresh existing skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important to acknowledge that people learn in different ways, from discussion and interaction, through to more structure training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why flexibility and accessibility are so important when planning workplace learning. Providing different routes into learning can help organisations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Formal training still plays an important role<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While learning happens in many informal ways, structured training remains an important part of building knowledge and consistency across teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Training can help people:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many organisations, training also creates valuable opportunities for colleagues to learn from each other by sharing experiences and discussing real workplace challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporting practical learning across the food industry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At VWA, our courses are designed to support practical, relevant learning for food industry professionals at different stages of their development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This includes training in areas such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recognise that people bring different levels of experience, confidence, and technical knowledge into training environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why our approach focuses on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether someone is developing technical expertise, refreshing existing knowledge, or building confidence in a new role, effective learning should feel relevant and usable in day-to-day work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Classroom training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our classroom courses provide opportunities for focused learning away from the day-to-day pressures of the workplace. The venues we choose to host our courses at provide the best environments for learning, from our modern training facility in Skipton, to our laboratory-based learning on our world-renowned Creating Thermal Process Flavours course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Classroom training allows delegates to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many learners, classroom environments also help create valuable networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remote live training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For some delegates, being away from the workplace for days at a time, or the added pressure of travel, makes remote learning their preferred option \u2013 especially for one-day courses. Our state-of-the-art AV system is integrated into our training room, meaning remote delegates are just as much a part of the room as classroom delegates. Our trainers also have years of experience in delivering remote and hybrid courses, with skills and resources utilised to ensure a seamless and smooth learning experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our live remote courses are designed to encourage participation through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This format can be particularly helpful for busy teams, geographically dispersed colleagues, or organisations looking to reduce travel time while still investing in structured learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In-house training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For organisations wishing to train five or more staff at the same time, in-house training<\/a> allows for a bespoke approach, tailoring learning around their teams, processes, and operational priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Delivering training within the workplace can help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also creates opportunities for colleagues to learn from each other through shared operational experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In-house training also has many benefits, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following courses can be run in-house:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning through discussion, experience, and practical application<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In technical food industry subjects such as HACCP, food safety, auditing and allergens, practical understanding is just as important as theoretical knowledge. Since all our trainers have several years\u2019 food industry experience, they understand our delegates\u2019 companies\u2019 processes and the issues they face. This means they can give practical, relatable examples to illustrate key points. our training is also interspersed with group exercises to consolidate learning, and discussion is encouraged throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recognise that many delegates already bring valuable operational knowledge and experience into the learning environment. Training can often be most effective when people have opportunities to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Group discussions and practical exercises help delegates connect learning to their own roles and responsibilities, making knowledge easier to apply back in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, during HACCP and auditing courses, delegates work through realistic scenarios, review examples, discuss decision-making, and explore how different businesses approach similar challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This practical approach helps build confidence as well as knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning from experienced food industry professionals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The experience and approach of trainers also play an important role in creating engaging and effective learning environments. VWA trainers are experienced food industry professionals with practical knowledge across manufacturing, technical management, auditing, food safety, and compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of this industry experience, trainers are able to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many delegates, this practical industry understanding helps training feel more realistic, relatable, and immediately applicable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSara was a delight. Obviously passionate and extremely passionate about her subject. Easy delivery and welcomed questions which she took great care to answer in detail.\u201d <\/em><\/strong> RJ –\u00a0Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cEleanor made what could have been a dry subject matter interesting and engaging. The training was well paced, targeted and delivered making it a very enjoyable week.” <\/em><\/strong> KK –\u00a0Cranswick – Lazenby’s<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent trainer, able to use her own extensive experience to make the course engaging and enjoyable.\u201d <\/strong>CC –\u00a0Food Centre Wales<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cJoanne was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the course. The pace of the course was good and the practical day was really useful.\u201d <\/strong> AS –\u00a0Pilrgrim\u2019s<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Creating opportunities for continuous learning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning at work is not limited to a single course or event. Strong learning cultures are built through ongoing opportunities to develop knowledge, ask questions, share experience, and reflect on practical challenges over time. Whether through formal training, collaborative discussion, mentoring, refresher learning, or day-to-day experience, creating opportunities for continuous learning can help organisations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning at Work Week is an important reminder that there are many ways people learn \u2014 and that creating inclusive, practical, and supportive learning opportunities benefits both individuals and organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Explore upcoming training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To explore upcoming courses from VWA, including HACCP<\/a>, Food Safety<\/a>, Auditing<\/a>, Managing Food Allergens<\/a>, Product Authenticity<\/a>, and Legal Labelling<\/a> training, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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