Avara Foods, one of the UK’s largest food companies, with significant operations in Dudley, is seeking new colleagues to join its friendly team in Brierley Hill. With positions open across all operational functions including Production, Technical, Engineering, Planning and Stores, it’s a great time to consider a new role with an established national company supplying the nation’s favourite supermarkets and restaurant chains.

Previously operating five days a week, the Dudley plant is now running seven days a week, following a huge increase in consumer demand. Production records have been smashed, with the factory producing hundreds of thousands more units of product than in 2020. Production capacity has leapt 30%, and with the summer months particularly busy for Avara Dudley handling seasonal barbecue foods, more dedicated colleagues are required to help it keep pace. The company has been recruiting for 130 new permanent roles in recent weeks, and there are still many great opportunities available.

Covid safety and compliance is a key driver for Avara at this time. The company has invested over £6m in protective measures across its UK-wide operations to keep colleagues safe during the coronavirus pandemic; these include screens and curtains installed along production lines to create physical barriers, floor markers in shared spaces to aid social distancing, and staggered shift start and finish times to reduce the number of colleagues coming into contact with one another. Canteens and break areas have spaced out seating and perspex dividers and additional cleaning regimes have been enacted in high traffic areas and more hand sanitising stations installed across all sites. Temperature checking of visitors, new starters and daily random temperature checking, along with a company-wide face covering policy provides further peace of mind for those working at Avara. The company’s sickness policy has been amended in light of the pandemic too, to ensure those required to self-isolate are not unfairly disadvantaged.

Mick Hillson, Site Manager at Avara Foods in Dudley commented, “We’re well-established here in Dudley, and this latest recruitment drive is evidence of our ongoing commitment to the area. Our factory is very important to Avara’s wider operations, and I’m pleased we’re expanding. I look forward to welcoming new colleagues to our friendly and enthusiastic team as we continue to enjoy growth. We understand many people are facing uncertainty but want them to know with a variety of full and part-time positions, both permanent and temporary situations and a broad spectrum of roles available, we’re a local employer they can look to for a new opportunity.”

Avara is a competitive employer, offering starting rates of pay above National Living Wage, whatever your age, and prides itself on being a company people want to work with and for. With full training provided, and the chance to progress within the company during the busiest period in its history, there’s never been a better time to join Avara Foods.

During these challenging times many British companies are reducing staff numbers, but Avara Foods is actively recruiting across its operations as demand for poultry products remains high. Chicken and turkey are staple products in many consumers’ weekly shops, and the company needs new colleagues at its Dudley site to help keep pace. All Avara Foods’ current vacancies can be found at www.avarafoods.co.uk/careers. Alternatively email dudleyjobs@avarafoods.co.uk for further information about current opportunities.