Introduction and Overview
Lemon Zest Creative Ltd will offer training and job development to all staff with the aim to maintain a stable, well motivated workforce with a high level of team work and customer awareness. Our focus on the provision and maintenance of facilities and services to the highest standard requires an active commitment to the provision of training. Although individual training requirements are reviewed bi-annually, it is the responsibility of all staff in Lemon Zest Creative to discuss and request assistance, on-the-job training and external training as soon as any such need arises.
Lemon ZestÃs staff is its most important resource. Staff training needs will have a high priority within the constraints of the efficient day-to-day running of the business. Lemon Zest is actively involved in NVQs, distance-learning courses and Learndirect courses, which are nationally recognised qualifications for on-the-job training. We encourage staff to attend courses at college.
All new staff will be introduced to the values and policies of the Lemon Zest Creative. Induction training will include the history and background of the business. Training will also be given on customer care and service skills along with specific training relating to the individualÃs new role. Health and safety procedures will also be covered. Full details of induction training will be issued by the Managing Director (Julian Ashton) and all training received will be recorded on the personnel file.
All staff receive a performance review with the Managing Director (Julian Ashton) and the Studio Manager (Adam Murray) twice a year. A performance review is a discussion with a Managing Director and the Studio Manager to review past performance, set new objectives and review future training needs. They will offer support with coaching and training in line with the business and customer needs. Full details of the performance review process will be given during the induction period.
Policies
Training
Training is provided to Lemon Zest’s employees in order to increase their knowledge and skills. This has the advantage to Lemon Zest Creative for greater efficiency and skills provision, and for the employee it means new opportunities and prospects.
Induction training will be given to each employee and will include awareness of Lemon Zest’s policies and procedures to enable employees to understand what is expected of them in respect of their duties and behaviour at work, for example, Lemon Zest’s Health and Safety, Environmental and Equal Opportunities policies and its Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures which can be found in the Staff Handbook.
Lemon Zest will continually review and update training courses and procedures and will ensure that training courses and materials are free from bias and do not infer discrimination.
Training and Development
Meetings
Each employee will have a one to one confidential meeting with the Managing Director (Julian Ashton) or Studio Manager (Adam Murray) at least once a year at which they will be given the opportunity to:
- Give their comments and views on their performance and potential, to propose ways of increasing, if appropriate, their contribution to Lemon Zest and to procure Lemon Zest’s assistance in achieving this.
- Agree the appropriate methods of improving their performance and meeting their development needs.
The Managing Director and the Studio Manager are responsible for checking that for such meetings timetables are strictly adhered to, notes of meetings are recorded and kept on the particular employee’s personnel file and action is taken on commitments made at the meeting.
Staff Training
Health and Safety training is an essential part of Lemon Zest’s Training Policy with an extensive range of in-house courses being made available to employees and external courses being organised where necessary.
Lemon Zest operates a rolling programme of staff training, particularly performance management and appraisal training so as to enhance management skills generally.
Training issues are co-ordinated by the Managing Director and the Studio Manager which collates staff training needs generally and supervises the preparation of company Training Plans. With Lemon Zest’s assistance employees participate in the preparation of their own development and training plans both long and short term.
Career Development
Lemon Zest is committed to ensuring that employees are provided with opportunities to develop their potential and skills.
Lemon Zest will ensure that its policies on training and promotion are continually reviewed and updated and that its policies make it plain that training and promotion are open to all suitably qualified and experienced staff, irrespective of disability, marital status, sex, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, religion or political opinion.
Job Satisfaction
All employees are encouraged to consider development to higher standards. Lemon Zest will not stereotype ideas linking certain groups of people to certain jobs and will wherever possible enrich jobs to increase its employees’ job satisfaction and prospects.
Lemon Zest will ensure that jobs which may traditionally be associated with certain groups of people, for example a man’s job or a woman’s job, are identified and consideration is given as to how these jobs can be filled by members of any group and of either sex. Lemon Zest will also take action to improve both job satisfaction and career progression.
Benefits, Facilities and Services
Lemon Zest will clearly define within their contract of employment all of the benefits, facilities and services to which each of its employees are entitled and ensure that they are made available to all staff, regardless of their race, colour, religion, disability, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, age or marital status.
The Managing Director and the Studio Manager are responsible for checking that all benefits, facilities and services to which Lemon Zest’s employees are entitled are in fact available to them.
Part-Time Employment
It is Lemon Zest’s policy to create opportunities for part time work or job sharing where possible and to ensure that its part time employees receive fair treatment.
Lemon Zest identifies jobs or areas where part time employees could be introduced. Lemon Zest will consider job sharing and similar schemes at all levels and that part time workers are recruited to the jobs so identified. The position of part time workers in relation to pay, benefits, pension rights, training opportunities and promotion is the same as full time workers.
Advertising
Lemon Zest will train, develop and promote employees on the basis of merit and ability. It will also provide suitable and relevant training in its policies and procedures as necessary for all staff, In particular, staff are referred to Lemon Zest’s Equal Opportunities Policy, which is available within the staff handbook.
Where vacancies are advertised both internally and externally, Lemon Zest will continue to ensure that such advertising, both in placement and content, is compatible with the terms of this Training and Employment Policy and with Lemon Zest’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Lemon Zest will scrutinise carefully the wording of advertisements to ensure that any hidden discrimination or sexually or racially offensive wording is avoided.
Lemon Zest also encourages the recruitment of internal staff members. Every effort will be made to ensure that the advertisements are placed in local newspapers and other publications, so that as many potential candidates as possible have access to the vacancies. Staff are referred
in particular to the provisions of Lemon Zest’s Equal Opportunities Policy on recruitment and advertising for further information in this respect.
Training Opportunities at Lemon Zest Creative Ltd
Lemon Zest is committed to the continual re-evaluation and training of all existing members of staff. Lemon Zest will consider requests from staff for training and accreditation, for example in relation to the following:
- National vocational qualifications (NVQs)
- Higher education such as degrees and diplomas.
- Access to relevant accredited training schemes for those staff who wish to futher their education.
- Customised training schemes to meet particular needs of all staff who have skills gaps in btheir area of operations.
- Refresher courses for those who have skills but feel they are lacking in this area.
Lemon Zest will consider applications for sponsorship, professional development and training schemes on an individual basis.
Lemon Zest is an equal opportunities employer and as such will engage suitable employees irrespective of disability, marital status, sex, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, religion or political opinion.
Lemon Zest Creative Limited is a private limited company, registered in England and Wales with number 5080428 whose registered office address is at Royal Bank of Scotland Chambers, Market Street, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 1ED.
Any complaints, comments or questions about the Employment & Training Policies should be directed to the Managing Director, Julian Ashton preferably by email julian@lemonzest.co.uk or letter.
