1.
abpuk.com
Making the difference
My Year at ABP
Doncaster
Izzy Hartley

2.
Who are ABP Food Group?
• ABP Food Group is split into 4 divisions;
• Beef
• Protein
• Pet Food
• Renewables
• Based in the ‘Beef Division’ – ABP UK
• ABP Doncaster – Retail Production Site
• All fresh beef products for Asda across UK
• RTC function added to site

3.
Where was I 12 months ago?
• Moved from home back to Sheffield to begin my
placement
• Studied a year of Biochemistry and a year of Human
Biology at Sheffield Hallam
• A personal drive to work in a fast paced industry
• Wanted to learn as much as possible in a year
• No knowledge of the food industry
• No understanding of what role the technical department
played
• Anxious to begin a new challenge
• Excited for the opportunities I was to be presented with

4.
What did I want out of my placement year?
• An in depth understanding of a retail production
site
• Understand how the technical departments plays
a role in the business and how it works with other
functions
• Confidence in myself and my ability
• Gain new working relationships with colleagues
• The WHY
• A foundation for a future career within the food
industry

5.
My Responsibilities

6.
Consumer Complaints
• Investigated serious consumer complaints from
Asda
• Completed root cause analysis and implemented
corrective and preventative actions
• Formed relationships with other departments
through investigative work
• Able to spot trends in complaints
• Completed a project into one specific complaint
to reduce further investigation time

7.
Pest Control
• Responsible for co-managing, with the hygiene
manager, Pest Control contractor
• Created a digital record of pest control
paperwork
• Experience in data trending
• Hosted third party contractors
• Liaised with senior teams to implement corrective
actions for issues raised

8.
Innova QA
• Assisted with testing of Innova QA
• Rolled out Innova QA to Technical
Departments
• Made changes to existing training
guides
• Helped to create procedures with
training department
• Independently created RTC Process
Control checks on Innova QA
• Tested Innova QA in QC Intake and
made changes from the team’s
feedback

9.
My Opportunities

10.
Audits and Visits
BRC
• Full exposure during 2 days of the Audit
• Presented Pest Control to the auditor
• Ability to confidently present and answer
questions about complaints
• Accompanied the auditor, factory manager and
head of technical in the factory
Other Audits/Visits
• Prepped areas for customer visits and approvals
• Presented a trace to Red Tractor auditor – “Best
trace I’ve been presented at this site in 6
years”

11.
June 2022 –
Managed
team of 6 QAs
independently
May 2022 –
Began to
learn QA
Supervisor
role
April 2022 –
Launched
Innova QA in
QA
Department
September
2021 – Testing
Innova QA
with QA
Department
July 2021 –
‘Day in the
Life of QA’
QA to QA Supervisor – Technical Development

12.
RTC Move to Doncaster
• Helped to complete gap analysis of new
customer standards
• Took part in trials on Line 6 in Doncaster’s retail
room
• Supported QA team on first day of production in
new RTC room
• Created QA audits for RTC including updated
allergen audit
• Gained understanding of LOMA and X-Ray
machines on RTC line
• Supported with new customer approvals and
product trials

13.
Training Opportunities & Application
• HACCP Level 3 – Distinction
• Food Safety Level 3 – Distinction
• Risk Assessment Training with John Etherington
• Internal Audit Qualification
• FSA Online Training Courses
• Able to apply knowledge learn when completing
gap analysis for RTC move
• Apply risk assessment training when creating
packaging risk assessments
• Use FSA course knowledge during work with
Food Safety and Quality Culture Team

14.
How does this link to
my course?

15.
Human Biology & ABP Doncaster
• Investigative skills from labs to consumer complaint investigations
• Analytical skills from university to root cause analysis
• Written communication from assignments to reports and communications
• Presentation skills from assessments to graduate scheme interviews
• Time management from exam revision to working lifestyle

16.
Skills from placement into final year
• Dedication
• Hard work
• Time Management
• Analytical
• Evaluative
• Communication
• Knowledge
• Written communication
• Teamwork

17.
My Development

18.
Kirsty Hovey – Technical Support & Product Manager
“I've really enjoyed the opportunity in working with you this past year,
from day one you have soaked up every bit of learning you could
receive and then some. You have challenged and pushed yourself
professionally, gaining the warranted respect you deserve. You have
helped me succeed in my objectives with your considerate and
unrelenting positivity. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to
me, Technical and the wider teams.”

19.
What have I got out of my placement year?
• Understanding of a retail production process
• Understanding of how the technical department
plays a role in the business and how it works
with other functions
• A huge growth in my confidence
• Relationships with colleagues
• The WHY, in every aspect
• A very strong foundation for a future career
within the food industry and a passion for
success

20.
Thank you!
Any Questions?