Skills development programme wins HR Excellence Award

Impress is a global leader in metal packaging for the consumer industry and has a reputation for innovation and quality which now extends to the field of human resources: the Society for Human Resources Development in the Czech Republic (CSRLZ) recently presented Impress Skrivany with a Human Resources Excellence Award.

Selected from seventeen registered projects by a peer-group audience of 200 delegates in Prague, the Award recognizes the impact of an on-going development programme to train Impress leaders and specialists in a range of skills needed to operate a large manufacturing centre in today's environment.

The Czech labour market is rapidly changing. Low unemployment and the growth of other industries in the area has meant that Impress Skrivany, a key centre for the production and distribution of can components, has had to look internally to existing resources to deliver the improvements targeted by the Company. Safety management, effective communication, presentation skills, time management, meetings management, self management, motivation of sub-ordinates basics of labour law and team work are all skills being acquired on the programme. Regular workshops complimented by twice yearly outdoor courses systematically combine theory from the 'classroom' with experience gained in an informal 'practical' environment.  

With people involved from all levels of the factory, there has been a significant impact on key measures monitored through the company-wide Operational Excellence programme. A significant reduction in accidents and lost time as well as a substantial increase in quality and line performance has been accompanied by improved teamwork and morale within the plant.

Impress is the worldwide leader in the seafood can market , European and Australasian leader for aerosol cans, European leader in cans for Paints and Coatings and European leader in cans for Infant Formula and Nutritional Powders. Impress is also the second largest supplier of heat processed food cans in Europe and Australasia. Impress is based in Deventer, the Netherlands and had worldwide sales of approximately €1.5 billion in 2006. It employs approximately 8,600 people in 60 facilities in 21 countries in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Seychelles and Morocco.

Ysabel Noel: Talents et Compagnie :Tel: +33 1 56 89 56 52    Fax: +33 1 56 89 56 50     e-mail: noel@talents-compagnie.com

Mary Chapman: Mary Chapman Communications: Tel:  +44(0)1452 720208    Fax:  +44(0)1452 723724    e-mail:  marychpm@aol.com

Discover Impress at: www.impressgroup.com