Puratos
India opens new bakery school to help solve skilled labor shortages
By Dinesh Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: Puratos
India has inaugurated its Bakery School at the Shirvane School and Junior
College in Navi Mumbai. With few professional bakery schools in India, but a growing
demand for skilled labour in the ever-increasing number of hotels, bakeries,
pastry shops and supermarkets, Puratos has decided to share its expertise and
skills in bakery, patisserie and chocolate. 25 students will be enrolled each
year for an intensive 2-year program.
Meeting skills shortage
As in any
fast-developing economy, consumer tastes in India are becoming ever more
sophisticated and this is reflected in a strong demand for bakery, patisserie
and chocolate products. New bakeries, cake shop and supermarkets, as well as
hotels and cruise ships seek to offer such products, but they are faced with
significant shortages in skilled Indian labor in the sector. Moreover, very few
schools in India offer the professional training needed to develop the necessary
skills, so most people have to learn on the job. This was the prime motivation
for Puratos to set up a school in India to teach 16-17 year-olds the
professional skills needed to work across all three sectors – bakery,
patisserie and chocolate.
A second and important
reason for the school’s creation is the Puratos Group’s commitment to social
corporate responsibility wherever we operate. We attach great importance not only to sharing
our own knowledge and skills with our business partners, which are the
bakeries, supermarkets and food service companies to which we supply products,
but also to helping others in the local community. Being good local partners is
vital to our corporate philosophy all around the world.
The school is located on
the premises of the Shirvane School and Junior College in Navi Mumbai and the
25 students enrolled each year will be selected primarily from this school,
many of whose 3000 students come from underprivileged backgrounds. Mr Dhiren
Kanwar, Country Head, Puratos Indian Subcontinent said, “We see a huge gap in
availability of skilled craftspeople in the Bakery & Patisserie industry.
On the other hand, there are many students who do not have the opportunity to
acquire skills or higher education due to lack of resources. As a key player in
the industry, it is our responsibility to bridge the gap.”
Highly trained teachers and a wide curriculum
The specially-selected
teachers for the bakery school have experience not just in the technical areas
of bakery, patisserie and chocolate, but also in computers, finance,
presentation and soft skills such as teamwork and communication. The teachers
have received additional technical training at a bakery school in Belgium as
well as further teaching skills.
The 2-year course at the
Baking School, organized over 4 semesters, has a wide curriculum, beginning
with the basics and patisserie and moving on to advanced levels of patisserie,
sugar work and chocolate making in year two. In addition to the strong
technical foundation, students will be introduced to new methods and materials
in the industry. High quality products, for which Puratos is renowned, will
provide inspiration for the course and students will have the opportunity to
learn from experienced Puratos employees. The program will also involve short
periods of work experience in various companies, for which students will be
paid. Mr Peter Deriemaeker, Markets Director, Asia Pacific, Middle Eat and
Africa, said, “The India market offers great opportunities to Puratos. Since
2007 Puratos India has invested significantly in people and resources to
develop a strong foothold on the Indian market. As an international company we
acknowledge that our business operates in a community and contributes to the
wellbeing of this community. This bakery school is another way to contribute to
the community, providing schooling to underprivileged youngsters in a domain
guaranteeing them later a good employment”
Student and parent commitment key criteria for selection
The course is designed
to prepare students, many of whom would not normally progress beyond basic
schooling though lack of money or opportunity, with real training that will
earn them a livelihood. Admission to the school is based on motivation and
commitment on the part of the students, but also their parents, who are
involved in the selection process. The school has an equal opportunity policy
for boys and girls and students are recruited irrespective of social
background. Other companies participating in the program will be encouraged to
engage students who graduate and Puratos India or other Puratos subsidiaries
may go on to employ students, although all such engagements would be made
entirely on merit. We live in a competition era. Today we find students
struggling to carve a niche for them in the industry. “We at Shirvane School
and Junior College have always catered to students from Low Income Group.
Puratos is a renowned company and a major player in the Bakery Industry today
globally. We are honored to have been a part of this endeavour. The Bakery
industry is booming today, but we have seen there is a need of skilled
labourers here. Puratos is helping them in the process and creating employment
for the needy students,” explains Dr Rajesh Patil, President, Shirvane School
and Junior College.
About Puratos India
Puratos India was
established in Navi Mumbai in 2008 as part of the international Puratos Group.
Like other Puratos subsidiaries around the world, Puratos India works with its
customers to help them grow their businesses through introducing innovative
products and providing pioneering technologies and support services. Puratos is
the only company in India to provide products and services across all three
sectors of bakery, patisserie and chocolate and since 2008 Puratos India has
launched some 80 new products. From its head office and factory in Mumbai,
Puratos India supplies 35 cities nationally as well as exporting to Nepal,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A new office will soon be opening in New Delhi. For
further information, visit www.puratos.in
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