“The business benefits of training are huge - you save costs, improve standards and ultimately you won’t need to employ as many people. You have greater consistency and quality, a well trained and motivated workforce, turnover of staff falls, and they know the business cares for them.” Read more...

Tom Salmon at Hedon Salads

 

 

Tom is Managing Director and shareholder of Hedon Salads in Yorkshire. They are the largest UK growers of cucumbers and aubergines, and second largest for peppers. In peak season, Hedon Salads has 400 staff employed across three sites producing a variety of vegetables from tomatoes and lettuce to courgettes and celery for major supermarket chains.

A firm believer in developing his staff Tom believes “training raises self esteem, gives people confidence, it helps them improve at work but also integration - the same applies to our workers wherever they are from. Everyone feels part of the business and output improves. For the team, training helps break down barriers, everyone works together, they help each other. We have a responsibility to give and get the best from our workforce.

Tom’s interest in training was why Tom joined the IAB “it’s my desire to see all staff in agriculture and horticulture well trained and achieve their full potential so that we can meet the demanding needs of food production.”

Tom is also a Governor at Bishop Burton College and works with the Churches Rural Commission with Upland Farming communities in North Yorkshire.