Claire Adshead, SPICE Process Manager
I joined Northern Foods in July 2001 and my first role was at Fenland Foods as a Process Development Technologist.
It was the best start I could have asked for, as it gave me such a wide skill base. I was responsible for taking new product concepts into the factory ready for launching and so I learnt about a number of factory processes from making pasta to char-grilling meat. My various experiences included working with the factory team to produce trials to presenting products to the customer.
In April 2003, I took a functional move into Operations. I wanted to gain experience of managing people and learn more about the business – after all, producing food is what we do! I started in Operations as a Production Supervisor at Fenland, and then I took a site move to Gunstones Bakery in July 2004, where I was a Section Manager. At this point in my career, my experience in operations and as a technologist, coupled with a site move, had given me wide experience and good overall business knowledge.
My next role was in Continuous Improvement, reporting to a member of the senior team at Gunstones. This role gave me a great opportunity to learn tools and techniques in the field of lean manufacturing, training and coaching. It was during this time that we started work on improving our NPD process at the site. Over time, this led to my involvement in the SPICE process.
SPICE is an innovation process that is designed to improve the introduction of new products by introducing and delivering the best ideas at the right time, with the correct resources.
I have been Process Manager of SPICE since January 2006. My day to day role since then has varied dramatically, which is something I have enjoyed. The early months involved facilitating a team of people from within the business who were tasked with designing key elements of the process, and I had to ensure all this work was aligned. There was a key phase of engaging and communicating to ensure everyone around the business was aware of SPICE and what it could help us to do as a business. This involved tasks from writing newsletters to presenting to site and category senior teams. The implementation phase involved conducting presentations and training at all the chilled sites, so the role has given me a variety of work in a number of locations, meeting many people along the way! Since the launch of SPICE, I have been supporting the sites using the process and I have begun to engage with other areas of the business to discuss their potential use of SPICE. This has included sessions with Board members and the CEO – a definite highlight!
In my five years with Northern Foods, I have really enjoyed working with such a wide variety of people. In each role I have been in, I have met some truly wonderful people who have been inspiring, challenging and have a genuine desire for helping to make the business more successful than it is today!
Northern Foods is a very fast paced business, always looking for the next trend, and the culture accommodates this.
What is next for me? I am always looking for the next challenge. From the skills I have gained through my current role, and the areas I wish to develop, I have targeted Project Management as a potential next role. It is an area I could bring many skills to, and it is something that would improve my skill set too.
My favourite product – M&S Crispy Duck, made at Pennine!