An image of a factory line of pitta breads baking and baguettes coming down a conveyor belt

Supporting English language skills for employees of Park Royal's food and drink industry

Type:
Case study
Category:
Communities
Area:
Park Royal

Park Royal has been an important centre for manufacturing since the early 20th Century and today over a third of all of London’s food is made here.  

In 2025, the Local Skills Improvement Plan identified a gap between locally available skills and the needs of Food and Drink Manufacturing businesses located in Park Royal.  

Bringing industry and education together to bridge skills gaps

To help look into ways to the bridge skills gaps, the Institute of Technology Food and Drink Skills Hub was launched. The hub held a workshop to bring industry and education closer together to help  improve awareness of the sector's needs and look at how these could be more effectively met.  

One of the biggest obstacles to employees' career progression, which was identified during this work, was English language skills. So, in 2026, partners came together to develop a new locally-based English speaking and listening programme.  

The course was designed to support members of the existing workforce who faced barriers progressing in work because they lacked confidence and the proficiency in their workplace English - despite having potential and the technical skills needed. 

The pilot programme

The pilot was supported by OPDC and delivered by Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC). It aimed to provide vocational English training course for local workers in food and drink manufacturing businesses.  

To make the course accessible to those who’d benefit the most, a local training venue was chosen. This meant that workers who lived locally could fit their study commitments around work.  

Twenty employees successfully completed the course and all of those that did said the course boosted their prospects. The skills and increased confidence that trainees developed through the course was recognised by their employer, Dina Foods.  

 

Dina Foods is proud to be part of this pioneering ESOL initiative with HRUC and OPDC, which reflects our long-term commitment to developing our people and creating an inclusive, supportive workplace.

By investing in language skills, we are not only empowering our staff to thrive at work, but also strengthening communication, teamwork, and opportunity across our business. Partnerships like this demonstrate how employers and education providers can work together to build a more skilled and confident workforce for the future.

Wilda Haddad, Project Director, Dina Foods

What's next?

An expansion of the pilot is planned for 2027 in collaboration with local partners including Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge College, West London Business and West London Alliance. 

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