Digital Re-print - January| February 2011

Going the distance:

Training the Milling Workforce in the Twenty-first Century

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 FEATURE
Going the distance
Training the Milling Workforce in the Twenty-first Century
by Nigel Bennett (Secretary, nabim, United Kingdom)
S
ince its formation in 1878, the National Indies. Students from many other countries Module four looks at various aspects of
Association of British and Irish Millers have featured in recent years. product handling, storage and distribution;
(nabim) has been committed to the Already seeking to serve several functions flour blending, packing, warehousing, loading
development of skilled millers and has - an introduction to the industry, building and infestation control.
placed a high priority on milling training. knowledge and understanding of the industry Flour itself is the subject of module five,
For well over one hundred years, it has and its processes, refresher training etc - and discussing functionality and types of flour
been at the forefront of technical education to cater for students of very different aca- commonly milled, flour treatments, quality
in flour milling, first within the British demic backgrounds, the wide diversity of stu- measurement and control, laboratory tests
Isles but also, since the mid-twentieth dent nationality adds to the challenge facing and flour uses.
century, across the world. nabim and its teams of tutors and examiners. Power and automation is the focus of
It is a challenge we are glad to meet. module six, covering a range of topics from
Nabim’s most well-known training provi- Offered annually, the course year running mechanical and pneumatic conveying to
sion is the distance learning programme, from September to May, this distance-learn-
delivered annually for around 80 years, and ing course is studied in seven modules, pro-
still lovingly known as the ‘correspondence viding a complete overview of flour milling.
instrumentation and process control.
In the seventh and final module, mill
management is addressed, including a back-
Flour Milling Training
Seven Steps to Success
courses’ or ‘City and Guilds’ by many former Each module is subject to rolling review and ground to the global flour milling industry
students, the latter despite the fact that the so a new edition of each module textbook and market, commercial and operations
association with City and Guilds of London is issued every five years or so, keeping it management, and the miller’s responsibility
ended almost a decade ago. fresh and up to date. This material is sup- to protect the product, environment and
plemented people.
For each module, the student is allo-
by additional
“The development of units which conform informa- cated one tutor, an expert in their field,
tion circu- who will provide guidance and advice on
with the UK’s national qualification lated with the the coursework. Assessment is by written
year’s lessons. examination at the end of the course year.
and credit framework should provide Module When students have successfully completed
one covers all seven modules, they are awarded nabim’s
employers with the basis on which to health and Advanced Certificate in Flour Milling. (See
ensure the retention of milling skills, and safety, includ- the nabim website, www.nabim.org.uk, for
ing risk assess- further details, including course fees.)
employees with proof of skills transferrable ment and the Though the distance-learning programme
prevention of continues to be successful, nabim is continu-
to other companies and sectors” fire and dust ously seeking new ways to improve its train-
explosions, ing provision. For example, students often
and hygiene, find it difficult to understand what is going
In the current session, there are almost including an introduction to pests and the on within the closed milling process. nabim
750 enrolments; only one-third of students prevention of infestation. is currently embarked on a pilot project,
are based in Europe. The two-thirds bal- Wheat is the focus of Module two, which developing online training material on the
ance come from many different countries looks at its structure, growth and production, workings of the 1st break rollermill and plan-
across the globe: Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt before moving on to the intake, cleaning and sifter, using video, animation, demonstration
and Sudan; Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya and preparation of wheat in the screenroom. and commentary. It is hoped this will go live
Zambia; Lesotho, South Africa and Namibia; Module three addresses the modern for nabim’s members during the first half of
the United Arab Emirates; Japan, Malaysia, flour milling operation, its machinery and 2011, and later be made available to distance
Indonesia and Vietnam; Australia, New processes and the importance of achieving learning students.
Zealand and Fiji; Canada and the West mill balance and improving mill performance. This is by no means nabim’s only initiative
28 | January - february 2011 Grain &feed millinG technoloGy
FEATURE
of recent years. At the request of its member should not change next year;
companies, nabim - in partnership with both candidates will be chosen
the Buhler Training Centre in Switzerland on experience, qualifications,
and Campden BRI - developed a new ability and potential, not on
training programme, very different to the geography.
distance learning provision. The Advanced Finally, another recent
Milling Diploma programme was launched development in nabim’s
in 2006, is run just once every three years, training arm has been of
and is aimed at developing the future opera- proficiency qualifications in
tions management of the milling industry. milling. Based largely on
Applications for the next intake will be both the distance learning
sought in early 2012. programme and nabim’s
Restricted to a maximum of ten can- ‘old’ craft skills certificate,
didates, the Diploma involves two resi- these are new vocational
dential weeks at Chipping Campden and qualifications which test
Uzwil, studying the first two units of three, practical competence
‘Technical’ and ‘Production’. The cereals sci- as well as underpinning
ence syllabus put together by Campden BRI knowledge and under-
is very demanding but provides candidates standing. The development
with the necessary fundamental understand- of units which conform with the UK’s and consideration is being given to develop-
ing of functionality which aids them both in national qualification and credit frame- ing relationships with colleges and/or other
the practical milling week at Buhler and in work should provide employers with the established training providers so that delivery
their third unit, in which they undertake their basis on which to ensure the retention of is concentrated on the key milling skills and
own research project and produce a report milling skills, and employees with proof understanding.
which is independently assessed. From an of skills transferrable to other companies So whilst nabim can happily point to a
induction day through to final interview and and sectors. strong history of milling training, it can also
result takes each candidate approximately 18 These new qualifications are only just demonstrate that its face is very much point-
months - and they have their full-time jobs coming on stream, under the umbrella of ed towards the future. Especially within the
to do as well! awarding organisation FDQ - but the work UK, where the industry is highly rationalised,
To date, whilst there has been some for nabim does not stop there. We are now automated and capital-intensive, with a small
interest from abroad, all Diploma candidates seeking to ensure that delivery of the new and (whisper it softly) ageing workforce, this
have been employed in UK flour mills. units is properly milling-focused (as opposed is absolutely vital for the continued success
There is, however, no reason why this to a generic food manufacture approach) of the milling industry itself.
Course Fees
– Hygiene, Health and Safety The cost per module is: £295
– Wheat and the Screenroom
(as at 2010 – VAT at 17.5% where applicable)
– Mill Processes and Performance
includes postage, textbook and exam registration
– Product Handling, Storage and Distribution
– Flour nabim Members: Discount £95 per module (£200)
– Power and Automation Non-UK Companies: Discount £50 per module (£245)
– Flour Milling Management
• Enhance your • Internationally • Developed • Studied every
career prospects recognised for millers year by hundreds
and increase distance learning by industry of millers
potential programme professionals worldwide
7 Modular Courses provide millers with an essential understanding and
underpinning knowledge of the milling industry.
An indispensable tool for those new to the milling industry and for
21 Arlington Street
developing the skills of the competent miller.
London SW1A 1RN, UK
Dedicated tutor support given to every student, providing professional Tel: +44 (0) 20 7493 2521
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7493 6785
guidance throughout the course year. email: info@nabim.org.uk
Grain &feed millinG technoloGy January - february 2011 | 29
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