Elkes Biscuits has launched a recruitment drive for new engineers to ensure its Uttoxeter factory can increase output by almost 50% over the next 12 months.
The biscuit maker, which was founded in 1908, unveiled a £1m investment in new equipment last September to improve capabilities in wrapping, ingredient handling, and chocolate application processes. It is now seeking engineering experts to ensure its machinery is well maintained to accommodate its growth plans.
According to its website, Elkes currently supplies a range of own-label biscuits to retailers including various flavours of custard creams as well as bourbon creams, chocolate malted milks, Nice biscuits, ginger biscuits, oaties, rusks, shortcakes, and more. It also produces its own branded lines including Sports Biscuits, which was ressurected at the start of 2024 after an almost two-year hiatus.
“All 620 colleagues here are valued for the part they play in making great biscuits, and we’ve worked out we have a massive 7,000 years of experience between us all,” commented Elkes Biscuits general manager Kevin Hand. “But when you’re making 53 million individual biscuits every week, we need to ensure our kit is running smoothly and will be able to take the ramp up in capacity. That’s why our engineering team is so vitally important and we would like to take on more with this particular skill set.”
Hart confirmed the business is looking for at least one electrical engineer and two technicians, and would consider taking on more multi-skilled engineers if the right quality candidates come forward. Successful applicants would be offered a flexible shift system and work hand-in-hand with operations teams.
UK candidates needing to move closer to Uttoxeter in Staffordshire for the Elkes job are being offered reimbursements of up to £8k, while overseas recruits can benefit from Elkes’ Sponsorship Licence which grants permission for it to sponsor skilled workers on immigration routes. Depending on the duration of the license, this can result in the sponsored recruit having permanent right to remain in the UK. Two months of support funding is also available to help immigrants settle in the area.
“We have brought many engineers through the apprentice route to having a permanent full time engineering role with Elkes Biscuits and it’s really satisfying to see this internal progression and careers blossoming,” said Debbie Shenton, HR manager at Elkes Biscuits.
“We are partnering with an external engineering training company to ensure individual training pathways for all our engineering colleagues, as part of the Elkes Engineering Academy, guaranteeing true multi-skilled opportunities. This is something we’re very proud of,” she added.
“We have some excellent examples of career progression and there’s growth opportunities in engineering specifically, including apprentices, electrical engineers and technicians all the way up to chief engineer.”
In addition to engineering roles, the company is also on the hunt for a health safety & environment manager and shift manufacturing managers, Shenton noted.
Since being saved from closure in March 2022 via an acquisition from 2 Sisters by Boparan Private Office, Elkes has reported strong sales growth as its looks to return to profitability. In its latest financial results for the period ended 1 January 2023, the company posted turnover of £42m. Major capital projects are also planned over the next three years, it noted.
Anyone interested in applying for a role at Elkes is advised to email elkesrecruitment@2sfg.com or call 01889 563131 and ask for the HR Team.
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