Farmers and food processors are ramping up their recruitment drives to enable the industry to meet growing demand for home-produced food.
The latest local business to advertise jobs is Abernethy-based potato supplier, Branston which is looking for at least 14 team leaders, machine operators, forklift truck drivers and engineers at its Perthshire factory.
A spike in demand for potatoes has led the company to offer temporary contracts to people with all levels of experience, and a simplified recruitment process involving telephone screening has been introduced in order to reduce unnecessary face-to-face contact while social distancing rules apply.
The company’s managing director, James Truscott said: “We want to keep the nation supplied with potatoes during this time of need.
“So many businesses have been impacted and many people have been laid off from their jobs so we’re hoping we might be able to help, at least in the short term.”
Branston has redeployed its agronomy staff on the weighbridge intake process and is training its engineers to run packing machines.
Office staff who have a forklift truck license are also now helping out in the factories.
For more information about the temporary vacancies at Branston, contact tempjobs@branston.co.uk
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk