At Rathfinny, we are big believers in providing work experience and investing in staff training. The English wine industry is still fairly young so it’s important we take an active role in upskilling the next generation of winemakers, viticulturalists, hospitality professionals and the multitude of roles now available in running a wine business. This is particularly important to us as a B Corp.
Age is no barrier in our teams and we’re so proud to have a diverse roster in our extended Rathfinny family. Indeed, many join us for a new way of life post-retirement or as a second or third career.
Over the years, we’ve welcomed seasonal interns from Plumpton College and across the world to learn about winemaking and production, as well as providing work experience o local students. One of our greatest achievements is the Rathfinny Research Lab at Plumpton College which opened in 2014 to show our commitment to the education of viticulture and oenology. Plumpton is a major player on the world stage for wine research.
Here’s an insight into the apprenticeship experience of Ashley Mignot, our Assistant Production Manager and Former Apprentice at the National Centre of Food Manufacturing who recently completed his Level 5 Certification of Higher Education: Operations and Departmental Management
Ash recently completed an extensive two-year apprenticeship in ‘Manufacturing and Operations Management’ at the National Centre of Food Manufacturing (NCFM), a satellite campus of Lincoln University.
As the first member of the UK wine industry to attend this course, he gained valuable knowledge and skills from the broader UK food and drink industry, which he has brought back to Rathfinny.
Study topics included people management, food safety, food science, energy and the environment, business, food processing and engineering, factory design and project management. The apprenticeship concludes with a final workplace project which Ash specialised in applying lean production methodology, achieving a distinction grade.
