Schools step up to help Maple Leaf Foods staff new London plant

Article content

Maple Leaf Foods put out the call, and London schools have answered.

The food giant is building a state-of-the-art food processing plant that will employ1,600 workers. Its staffing needs will be helped by new food industry training programs offered by Fanshawe College and the London Training Centre.

The schools have developed food handling and production courses they hope will feed the food giant.

“We know how much of a need there is,” said Michelle Giroux, associate dean for Fanshawe’s school of tourism, hospitality and culinary arts.

“We want to be a partner with industry. We want to make sure we develop new programs where students get jobs. There is no point in creating programs where there is not work.”

Maple Leaf Foods plans to begin hiring by mid-2022 for production to begin late that year and into 2023. The chicken processing plant is one of several large employers on the horizon for London and area. Amazon is looking to hire more than 1,200 for a fulfillment centre and warehouses, Gateway Casino about 700 for its new casino under construction and some employers are worried about a possible labour shortage.

Employers can work directly with schools to cope with that possible shortage.

“We have commenced our workforce planning and have been working with the . . .  LEDC (London Economic Development Corp.), local community organizations and schools to ensure an adequate workforce is available to support all these new jobs,” Annemarie Gerber, director of public relations for Maple Leaf, said in a statement.

Fanshawe College created a food processing operational leadership program in September, preparing students for entry-level supervisor roles in a food processing plant created in response to Maple Leaf opening here, Giroux said.

“We work with Maple Leaf to see what their needs will be. It is what we pride ourselves on,” she added.

“They (workers) can hit the ground running.”

It also offers a meat-cutting program that teaches skills that can be used by butchers, as well as a meat processing plant such as Maple Leaf, Giroux said.

“They will learn about food safety, cleaning and maintenance and production.”

The London Economic Development Corp. worked with Maple Leaf, Fanshawe College and the London Training Centre, connecting the schools to the industry to help create the programs.

“When we work with companies in any sector, having a workforce is critical. We have a network of employment service providers to ensure there is as healthy a pipeline of workers as possible,” said Kapil Lakhotia, chief executive of the London Economic Development Corp.

“This is concern across all sectors. Given the numbers Maple Leaf is looking at, we have to do this.”

The London Training Centre on Adelaide Street offers courses in safe food handling and a culinary pre-apprenticeship program and offers courses with Food Processing Skills Canada, executive director David Corke said.

“Essentially, we give people the skills they need to succeed. It is evident there is a crunch coming, the real crunch of workforce need as it will be hard for employers to find people,” he said.

Corke said he has met with Maple Leaf food officials to ensure the centre can help deliver skilled workers.

“It will be the largest and most advanced meat processing plant in North America and job training will be key. It is advanced, complex and they need skills.”