Nairn's Oatcakes Limited

Mixing Polish recruits with local staff has helped biscuit maker, Nairn's Oatcakes, find the perfect recipe for a loyal workforce.

About 20 of the company's 110 staff are from Poland, with another five nationalities being represented.

Best known for its oatcakes and oat biscuits, nairn's also supplies its own-label biscuits to multiples including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer. The company turns over about £13m a year.

The company, formerly known as Simmers of Edinburgh, uses the latest manufacturing technology and has invested heavily in its plant, installing one of the most modern biscuit lines in Europe. The core work involves operating processing, baking, wrapping and packing equipment, with ancillary functions, such as equipment clean downs.

The Polish workers do a variety of jobs within these areas, while one individual has moved onto admin. “We are still very much a family business and have a good local workforce, with some of our staff having 25 years service," says Production Services Manager Russell Clink. "We've got good Scottish people and the Poles have been a complement to that.

"They do have a very good work ethic and that's rubbed off in a number of ways. Our absence levels are very low indeed and that's something we're very proud of. I think the overseas workers have integrated very well. There's a good mix between the Scots and the Polish people and there are no barriers. They work very well together and I think that's important."

Nairn's has produced a Starter Pack for Polish workers with Polish language induction information. This includes instructions on how to register with the Home Office Worker Registration Scheme, which monitors the participation of A8 workers in the UK labour market.

They have also provided assistance in the field of English language courses, ranging from the elementary to the advanced.

The company has seen a dramatic improvement in the knowledge levels of Polish workers coming to Scotland.

"It's not like it was even two years ago when some of the people coming over here needed a degree of help," Russell explains. "Now when they come in they're completely clued up and don't need that level of support. I think it's because a lot of information is getting passed back home from brothers, sisters and friends who are here. I used to have to give them a map of Edinburgh with key locations highlighted, but they don't need that now."

Contact

Nairn's Oatcakes Limited
90 Peffermill Road
Edinburgh
EH16 5UU

Tel: 0131 620 7000
Web: www.nairns-oatcakes.com
Email: info@nairns-oatcakes.com