Training transforms the fortunes of Chesapeake manufacturing plant : Site becomes beacon of good practice

Purpose – Describes how award‐winning training for all 220 employees of a UK packaging plant, which had been threatened with closure three years ago, helped to transform the site into a beacon of good practice. Design/methodology/approach – Explains the background to the training, the form it took and the results it has achieved. Findings – Details improvements in productivity, quality and morale at the site, which have provided solid foundations for the future. Practical implications – Reveals that there is now a much more collaborative approach to work and traditional barriers have been broken down. Social implications – Highlights how training for all grades of employee – from senior managers to shop‐floor workers – helped to change the organizational culture and, ultimately, safeguard 220 jobs. Originality/value – Reveals how to bring about significant, positive change in a manufacturing environment.