Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited is a New Zealand multinational publicly-traded dairy co-operative owned by more than 10,000 New Zealand farmers. The company is responsible for approximately 30% of the world's dairy exports, has revenue exceeding NZ$17.2billion, and is New Zealand's largest company.
Fonterra wanted to offer an Apprenticeship programme in their core business of dairy manufacturing, in order to attract and develop tertiary education-ready youth from the provincial areas.
The Apprenticeship programme needed to be an innovative, flexible and engaging learning pathway designed specifically for practical young people seeking a career within Fonterra. The programme would take 18 months to complete and cover dairy chemistry, health & safety, microbiology, Food Safety & Quality, Cleaning in Place and Environmentalism, as well as the technical knowledge and skills for processing core products such as milk powder, butter, cheese, cream cheese, UHT, whey protein, etc.
Fonterra commissioned Optimism to create the strategy and detailed framework for the Apprenticeship programme, and to ensure the quality of the learning deliverables.
After initial project planning, we consulted with various stakeholders, Dairy Plant Managers, Operators, Trainers and Coaches as well as other subject matter experts and the Primary Industry Training Organisation (PITO) who would issue the final qualification.
Based on our consultation, we drafted a high level 18-month journey from the perspective of a young apprentice, and consulted with provincial youth in their last year of secondary school to ensure it would be appealing and engaging to them.
Once the journey was approved in principle, we mapped it out as a detailed framework from first day, first week, first month, through to 18 months with check-ins, assessments and stage gates along the way. In the first months there was greater emphasis on foundational learning, exploration and observation. As the journey continued, there was more time spent in on-the-job application of knowledge and skill.
Where appropriate we used existing Fonterra eLearning, workshops or reference materials, and structured these into themes and streams of learning. Whilst doing this, we identified and outlined further modules to address all the learning gaps, to ensure the programme would meet all the Unit Standards and requirements of the pre-approved PITO qualification.
We created prototypes for the primary Apprenticeship delivery methods of:
for ongoing development. We also advised on the set up within the Learning Management System, including structure, presentation, icons, digital badges and delayed releases.
In addition, we designed and delivered;
The programme was ready and approved in time for the first ever scheduled recruitment of Dairy Apprentices. As anticipated, the first cohort was drawn from at least three different rural locations, meaning the blend of self-directed learning, online sessions coaching and on job learning was required.
Unfortunately, sudden Covid lockdowns meant this first cohort could not meet together for their first week induction workshop. However, the programme’s’ modular and blended design enabled the Apprenticeship Manager to easily and effectively deliver the programme virtually with great success.
By the end of the first 12 months, all Apprentices were on track and engagement was high. Plant Management were fully in support of the programme for bringing in young talent, and other Plants were requesting to be part the Apprenticeship programme. The programme was endorsed by Senior Leadership, and a second cohort was recruited.
Fonterra now have a proven method for introducing young talent into dairy operations, and growing future plant leaders.
I have had the pleasure of working with the Optimism team over the last 14 months. In my opinion they are professional, efficient, thoughtful and innovative. They have helped me deliver my project outcomes of a highly engaging learning pathway and if I had the opportunity, I would jump at the chance to work with them again.
Dairy Apprenticeship Manager
