People

We employ a team of around 300 people – each bringing a different ingredient to the mix.

We encourage a culture in which people can be themselves at work, adding value in their own way. We have diversity & inclusion and equal opportunities policies which set out our standards and we’re introducing training for line managers to make sure we’re maintain an inclusive environment.

Whipping up careers Helping our people gain qualifications while getting practical experience under their belts, we run modern apprenticeship programmes in baking and engineering.

Meet Blair After joining us at the age of 17, Blair Dunbar completed his apprenticeship in bakery skills this year.

Under the watchful eye of our seasoned bakers, Blair spent a year in the development bakery, learning the basics before moving to the quality department to try his hand at a more analytical role.

Having earned his qualification, Blair is now a full-time member of the team with plans to continue his learning at Macphie.

This year, we have invested in our management team, recognising their ongoing role in the development and wellbeing of the wider workforce. We launched a four-month development programme for managers to arm them with the tools to drive the performance of their area through people development.

Every day’s a school day It’s not just our apprentices who learn on the job. We’re a curious and ambitious bunch and have introduced training programmes to channel the growth of our workforce.

Funding the future We’re not just about the here and now.

Funding teachers, scientists and engineers of the future, our employee trust funds a student bursary scheme. Open to the families of all past and present employees, the scheme aims to support students and alleviate the cost of going into further education. Further supporting those starting their careers from scratch, we launched a food and consumer science scholarship through Abertay University in Dundee.

Meet Heather Heather is a design student from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen who joined us in 2020 on a three month work placement.

Working within the communications team, Heather got her hands on a variety of work, with exposure to advertising, web design and the launch of new branding.

Our first student received a payment of £1,500 to help towards their studies and is due to join us later in the year for a three-month work placement.

Cherry on top We offer an impressive benefits package which includes our leisure subsidy initiative. Funded by the Employee Trust, this employee perk aims to help everyone make the most of their free time.

The initiative offers all 300 employees the chance to claim up to £100 per year to use towards hobbies, or activities they enjoy doing outside work.

In its third year, over almost £8,000 has been paid out to employees under this scheme.

Meet John One of our production team leaders John Smith has been using the leisure subsidy scheme to make a lifechanging transformation and support his family.

Last year, John put his £100 allowance towards the cost of martial arts fitness classes and as a result, has lost four stone in weight.

“I try to go at least three times a week,” said John.

“It’s an all abilities class run in a small centre in East Kilbride and the ages of people attending range from 16 years old up to 72.”

“The last time I was weighed I had lost 56.5lb (4stone) and over 24 inches from my chest, waist and hips.

“But the main reason for doing it was for my son Dixon who turned three last year.

“In November 2018 we found out Dixon has - a very rare genetic condition called Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease.

“It will mean for him that his mobility will be limited. He’ll be wheelchair bound and will require lifting and constant care so I want to get in the best shape I can to make sure I’m fit and able to give him the best care and support I can.”

Loud and clear When our people talk, we listen.

This year we took the decision to revamp our employee forum. By introducing more regular meetings with more focused groups, we’ve been able to tackle issues at a more local level and talk through burning concerns.

In addition to this, our chief executive regularly carries out informal coffee chats with each area of the business to invited to quarterly briefings to make sure everyone knows what’s happening across the business.

Life-long relationship So many people have played significant roles in our story. We would not exist were it not for them and our gratitude doesn’t end when you hang up your hairnet or pack up your desk.

Our community of retirees receive annual winter payment which is funded by the Employee Trust’s shareholding.

In total, over £28,000 has been paid out this year to support the retired workforce.

But it’s more than a cash transaction, with members of the Employee Trust regularly dropping by to check in on our pensioners and a quarterly newsletter delivered to their doors – keeping them up to date with all things Macphie.

In turn, their stories of the Macphie years before us are kept very much alive.

Meet Adelaide Adelaide was an employee for 18 years and having returned to Glenbervie in during a visit organised by the Employee Trust, she comments on how different things are.

“The first thing that struck me was how little paper there is now,” she said.

Adelaide started working at Macphie in 1975.

“There were no computers. There were typewriters and then eventually word processors. Oh, and the telephones were all different.

“I was 42 when I started in the mailroom but I hadn’t worked for 20 years.

“It was surprising what you would find out in a mailroom. It was a hub for everything going on.

“And oh, what a lovely place it was to work.”

We featured Adelaide’s memories on our internal communication channels and retired workforce newsletter – Senior Moments.