68 | Strong local employer from page 66 The Waitane plant processes over 360,000 stock units each year, sourced from farms all over Southland and South Otago. PRODUCTION Silver Fern Farms Waitane HOKONUI Kitchens & Joinery Ltd (03) 208 6366 hokonuikitchens@xtra.co.nz 11 Huron, Gore Richard & Nick 60 years experience 134 Esk Street, Invercargill Phone. 03 218 9690 027 812 0312 richard@southernweighing.co.nz FOR ALL YOUR WEIGHING NEEDS Waitane employs approximately 230 staff on site in a diverse range of roles including boilermen, maintenance staff, animal assembly, primary and secondary butchery, chiller operators and cold chain staff that are supported by departmental leadership, health and compliance, people and capability, risk management and administration team. Bronwyn says every person on site plays an important role in Waitane achieving Group recognition. A large number of team members have been working at Waitane for 30 plus years, including some who have been part of the journey from the time the plant was being built. While Bronwyn is in her sixth year as Site Manager, she is in her 30th year at the Waitane plant. Starting her career in the industry as a laboratory technician Bronwyn progressed to quality control, technical manager and production manager before being appointed to her current role. “This gives you a really good picture of the opportunities that people have within Silver Fern Farms. The company offers opportunities for people to progress and grow by offering upskilling programs, self-development, on the job training and be part of health and safety committees. We also offer meat industry apprenticeships.” On average over $10 million is injected into the Gore district in wages and salaries every year, with a further $35 million in livestock payments to farmer suppliers over the last 12 months. “We’re really proud to be a strong local employer and supporting our local farmers. We are also proud to be supporting our community. “We provide lot of sponsorship within the region to support local service clubs, sports groups and community teams along with causes like Women’s Refuge and the Breast Cancer Society. “And we are engaging with the Gore District Council with the Closing the Gaps programme. “It is important for everyone in the team to know why we are here as a business, to support them and their families as members of the community and to get our brand out into the community to say who we are.”
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