Pictured above: Jim Stockley, Butchery Manager at Rick Bestwick

A wild game establishment from Chesterfield, which is committed to developing the skills of its workforce, is supporting the second anniversary of the Skills Pledge.

Since its launch in 2007 the Skills Pledge has already helped 403 employers in Derbyshire to make the public commitment to drive their organisations forward, training more than 98,000 employees.

Nationally more than 17,000 employers have made the Skills Pledge which means almost 6.5million employees now have the opportunity to embark on training programmes at work - far exceeding the original employee target.

Rick Bestwick, based on the Holmewood Industrial Park, made the Skills Pledge in April and 28 of its workforce in Chesterfield have already completed either an NVQ in team leadership or distribution, warehousing and storage operations. A further seven are currently enrolled on NVQs in business administration, logistics management, IT and first line management.

The company produces a range of wild game products including wild venison, pheasant, partridge, duck, and rabbit, alongside exotic game such as kangaroo, crocodile and ostrich. The wild venison was the first meat product in the world to become accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council. It also offers large scale multi temperature coldstore facilities.

Maria Chacon, Technical Manager, Rick Bestwick, said: "Making the Skills Pledge has been important for us and we've really noticed a difference in the service we provide to our customers.  The staff have embraced the training and really enjoyed it."

Jim Stockley, Butchery Manager, who has worked at Rick Bestwick for over 10 years, completed an NVQ in team leadership. Jim, from Chesterfield said:

"The training has given me great confidence to handle any given situation in the workplace. I feel I am now more able to meet tasks and deadlines to achieve customer's demands of quantity and quality. It has also helped me implement company policy within the workplace diligently."

Lynne Rawson, Business Link Adviser, said: "It has been a pleasure working with Rick Bestwick, helping them to identify and source training solutions as they are committed to developing people across all areas of the business. They continuously look for opportunities to up skill their workforce putting them in the best possible position to deliver and achieve the service their clients expect."

Sue Peake, Skills Development Director, Learning and Skills Council East Midlands, said: "We are delighted that so many employers have made the Skills Pledge.  Skills are vitally important to any organisation but it's more important than ever in the current climate for individuals, for their future employability and for success of organisations throughout the UK.

"By making the Skills Pledge Rick Bestwick has committed to ensuring their workforce receive the training and development necessary to keep their skills up to date."