Your candidate information pack The Co-Development Company
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Contents About Us ........................................................................... Page 3 Our values ........................................................................ Page 4 Sustainability ................................................................... Page 5 Your AAK career ............................................................... Page 6 AAK UK ............................................................................ Page 7 Our recruitment process ................................................ Page 8-9 2
About us Our background AAK is proud to be the world’s leading producer of specialty vegetable fats. Through our unique co-development approach we develop and provide value-adding vegetable oil solutions in close collaboration with our customers, enabling them to achieve long-lasting business results. By doing so, we solve customer specific needs across many industries including Bakery, Chocolate & Confectionery, Dairy, Foodservice, Infant Nutrition and Personal Care. Our pioneering spirit and passion for innovation keeps us at the cutting edge of our industry and is what sets us apart. It enables our employees to work in a safe and supportive environment in which they make a genuine impact. AAK employ more than 2,700 employees. We have 19 production facilities and customisation plants, and sales offices in over 25 countries spanning six continents. We have one of our industries most diverse global footprints.
AAK values At AAK, our values underpin everything we do – from how we relate to each other, to our external business relationships, and how we measure our performance. For AAK to be a truly successful company, it’s vital that we all bring our values to life every day in the way we carry out our work, engage with our colleagues and deal with our customers.
Exhibit and live our values Our values help everyone in our AAK family understand what’s expected of them. They are integral in shaping how we manage and develop everyone in our AAK family. We use them in many different areas from development planning, goal setting and managing performance to career development.
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Our values We keep our promises to our stakeholders by driving initiative, improvement and innovation with teamwork and a sense of urgency.
Innovation Our pioneering spirit and passion for science and technology not only help us deliver innovative new products; they allow us to create new ways of working too. We stand out against our competitors because we encourage our employees to take risks, challenge the status quo and come up with new and value-added ways of doing things.
Improvement-focused We’re passionate about the work we do, and so are our employees. Through a performance-driven culture, we strive for continuous improvement and operational excellence – driving profitability, customer satisfaction and financial stability.
Initiative Our co-development approach gives our employees the opportunity to make a genuine impact, taking responsibility for their actions. For us it allows us to rapidly change or adapt in response to changes in our market, and help us to react successfully to the emergence of new competitors and the development of new industry changing technologies.
Teamwork We are committed to working together. To reach our business goals, we depend on our ability to communicate clearly, work together and share our knowledge and expertise. As well as leveraging the strength of our multinational organisation, we also celebrate and draw on the diversity of our people.
Sense of urgency Our culture is also one driven by a sense of urgency; where quality products and services are emphasised every bit as much as profitability and stability. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and, as a result, each of our employees takes pride in their work and holds themselves accountable for their actions and performance. In this way we own all our successes and build valued relationships.
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Sustainability As the world’s leading supplier of specialty vegetable oils and fats, we are keenly aware of our responsibility to source, handle, produce and deliver products in the most efficient and sustainable manner. It is essential for both us and our customers that our oils are responsibility sourced, particularly palm oil, meaning that our products containing pal oil are being made from raw materials which have been produced with care for people, animals and the environment. As a leading importer and processor of palm oil, we have been actively involved in the campaign for sustainable palm oil from the outset. We became a founder member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in 2004. Since then, we have worked tirelessly with out global partners to promote sustainable, social and environmental practices in palm oil production. Our efforts in increasing our sustainable credentials mean we now offer RSPO certified sustainable palm oil across our full range of products.
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Experienced Graduates professionals
For graduates who share our pioneering spirit and passion for science and technology, there is no better place to drive innovation in value-added vegetable oil solutions.
We value the expertise of our experienced professionals. Their constant push for excellence and collaborative approach makes us a stronger business. In return, we offer them the development opportunities they need to take their career further and the responsibilities they need to challenge themselves, in addition to competitive rewards and benefits. As an experienced professional, you will enjoy the flexibility to challenge yourself through varying job roles, plus benefit from the potential to work in different functions and locations. As a global organisation there are many opportunities for even the most experienced professionals to develop, and because your success is our success, we will help you grow in a number of different ways.
Operators & trades At AAK, we respect the contributions of our Operators and trades professionals. Their technical knowledge and skill keeps our machinery maintained, our product quality high and our customer deliveries on schedule. They are essential to the ongoing success of our global business, and we make sure we offer them a work environment that is collaborative, friendly and above all, safe
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We make sure all our graduates get off to the best possible start with a comprehensive induction program followed by direct training events, access to AAK’s Academy, structured rotations and on-the-job learning. You will also be assigned a mentor and work alongside experienced professionals who will help guide you through your first few years in our business. This continuous professional development does not stop upon program completion. At AAK, you can expect to grow throughout your entire career.
Apprentices At AAK, we see our apprentices as essential to our growth and future success. On all our global programs, we therefore offer the very best training, guidance and support – everything you need to take your place as part of our next generation of highly skilled trade talent. As well as partnering with training colleges to ensure the highest standard of training and education, we make sure our apprentices enjoy learning outside the classroom. You can therefore look forward to on-the-job training and the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications as you develop valuable skills and establish yourself in your chosen field. Our apprentice programs are designed to give you the best possible start to your career, and we expect you to take full advantage of them. That means showing a real passion for learning in addition to a determination to succeed.
AAK Hull AAK Hull is located in the heart of an area enjoying significant redevelopment and investment. The Port of Hull is being established as a world-class centre for renewable energy and manufacturing, and at AAK we feel proud to be part of this important industrial renaissance for Yorkshire and the UK. At our recently upgraded site at King George Dock we operate the UK’s largest refinery for edible oils and fats. We supply businesses in the sectors of food manufacturing, baking, foodservice and retail, and we work closely with customers to co-develop bespoke products. As leaders in sustainable palm oil, AAK Hull scored a national first by importing the UK’s first batch of RSPO-certified segregated palm. AAK Hull is easily reached by road, being situated to the east of the city centre and on one of Hull’s major road transport routes. If you join the 350-strong staff at AAK Hull, you join a supportive and experienced team of colleagues, many of whom have been with the business for 20 years or more.
AAK Runcorn AAK Runcorn is the home to AAK Foods, a major manufacturer and supplier of sauces, condiments and dressings to the retail and foodservice sectors. Our private label work has won awards for taste and quality, and our products can be found on the shelves of stores throughout the world. From our site on Davy Road, to the east of the town centre, we work with customers to co-develop new recipes for grocery private label products, retail restaurants, quick service restaurants, foodservice and food ingredients. From here we supply the biggest names in retail and leisure including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Chiquito’s, Harvester, Whitbread, Frankie and Benny’s, to name just a few. Part of the Liverpool City Region, Runcorn benefits from being in an area rich in industrial heritage, investment and ambition. The town is within easy reach of the region’s wealth of culture, nightlife, shopping and sport, and Runcorn’s railway station gives fast access to Liverpool, Birmingham and London.
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Selection assessments
Our recruitment process Our recruitment process has been designed to give you the chance to show us who you are and whether you possess the skills and experience we are looking for. At the same time, you will have the opportunity to learn more about us and decide whether we are the right company for you.
Application To apply for a position with AAK all you need to do is complete our pre-application form and upload your CV to our online recruitment system. Your application will then be reviewed by a member of our HR team to determine whether you meet the criteria for the vacancy. The more information you can provide in your application the easier it will be for us to make an informed assessment.
Screening Once your application has been reviewed by a member of our HR team you may be invited to a telephone screening interview. The purpose of this call is to determine whether you meet the minimum position requirements and ensure a face-to-face meeting is a good use of time for everyone. The telephone discussion is your chance to provide specific job related information and demonstrate how well your personal characteristics align to our company values.
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As a part of the application process you will be required to participate in some assessments. To assist you in this process we have prepared the following information to help you understand why we use assessments and what you can expect.
Why we use assessments in the recruitment process As a global organisation we are committed to bringing in and developing the best talent from around the world to achieve ongoing success. In order to do this we use robust and objective assessments in order to select candidates with the specific skills and behaviours required across the different levels and roles within AAK. We have partnered with global HR consulting and psychometric assessment firm, CEB (formerly SHL) to develop and deliver these assessments to support the identification of talent across all levels – from executive leadership positions to frontline, entry-level roles.
How does assessment add additional value? Here at AAK, we’ve undertaken a huge amount of work to ensure we have a clear picture of what ‘successful’ looks like in our organisation. Our HR team responsible for using assessment to support hiring decisions are fully trained in interpreting the results, supporting a robust process to ensure we are truly aligning the right people to the right roles. Not only do we use assessment to support great people decisions, we also ensure you are given an experience that supports you in your ongoing career development. Without doubt, undertaking the assessments provides a challenging experience, but following this you will be provided with the opportunity to receive an overview of your results. We have found that regardless of the outcome of the recruitment process, this feedback has been critical in providing the self-insight and development guidance to support you in your future success.
What assessments are used in the process? Depending on the level and role, you may be asked to complete personality and/or motivation questionnaires as well as ability tests. Tests are carefully selected based on the role requirements, competencies and level. Ability tests are used to gain insight into how you perform on reasoning tasks, such as numerical or verbal reasoning. Questions are usually presented in a multiple-choice format and you will be able to select the language in which you wish to take the tests. Ability tests typically last between 15 and 25 minutes per test. The best strategy for the tests is to work as quickly and accurately as you can, making sure you read through the instructions carefully and complete all practice questions first. Personality questionnaires focus on assessing behaviour. You will be asked to describe your preference in communicating and interacting with others and your typical working style by rating how well a number of statements apply to you. Personality questionnaires do not have a time limit but they can usually be completed in 30-45 minutes.
The interview Your interview at AAK is both technical and competency based against the technical requirements of the role, our core values and leadership principles. These interviews are your chance to provide additional evidence about how you have applied your technical skills and knowledge in the past. In each instance it would be worth picking examples where you can go into detail, as you will find we will explore in some depth. Please note that concise, structured answers are preferential. This is also your opportunity to ask any questions that matter to you. We may also include a mixture of different selection techniques such as case studies, presentations and role plays alongside your competency based interviews so you can demonstrate your skills on the day. Your HR contact will give you a breakdown of what is expected during your interview.
After your interview Following your interview with us you can expect your HR contact to be in touch with you within a week. You will also receive a request to complete an online survey shortly after your on-site interview to let us know about your experience. Please take the time to complete this as we are always looking for ways to improve our processes.
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Your candidate information pack
Explore more at www.aak.com Or contact us at http://careers.aak-uk.com
The Co-Development Company
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