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National Meat Industry Training Advisory Council Limited

Ten ways to interact with schools and your community?


Whether you are a large processing facility or a small retail butcher shop, you play an important role in your local community. Often it is through work experience students, traineeships and apprenticeships that we find our best workers. Promoting your business and the career opportunities that exist in your business is vital to your success.

Here are 10 ways you can interact with your local schools and your community.

  1. Social media! What student (or person for that matter) isn’t on Facebook or twitter? If you do not already one, create a facebook page for your business. Post daily jokes, specials, and competitions and watch your community grow. You can also advertise positions available. Your social community of fans will advertise your business by word of mouth, at no cost.
  2. Showcase the art of butchery by doing a demonstration in a hospitality class, or explaining different cuts of meat and where they come from. What student won’t find a sausage machine interesting!
  3. Meet with the careers advisors and go through the various aspects of your business or invite them to take a tour. Once they understand the opportunities that are available at all levels they will better communicate this to their students.
  4. Attend school open days or better still, run the sausage sizzle. Getting your name out there makes people familiar and builds respect. When a company has the respect and support of its community the success closely follows.
  5. Have your best personal attend careers days! Someone’s passion is contagious! If students can relate to the person presenting they will follow them, share their success story and how they got to where they are. Or turn up in a very expensive car that will get the students attention!
  6. Produce a careers video (an interesting and relevant one pitched to students). Remember what drives kids of school age….money, friends, footy. Show them ‘a day in a life as a…’ speed it right up and end with them at the park or catching up with mates. Showing them a lifestyle will convince those more than showing them a corporate ladder and responsibility.
  7. Community interaction to change public perception. Often people will think of the processing plant as the last resort. Be proud of your company and promote it accordingly. Whether this is through supporting community programs, donating to help build a skate park, or sponsoring the local footy team.
  8. Do you have an unforgettable character in your ranks? Everyone does, nominate them to MC a school assembly dressed in work gear. Present the award winners with a meat tray! They won’t forget you or your business!
  9. Publish a good news story in your local paper. For example, an employee who has moved up through the ranks, an environmental initiative, or how the business is focused on animal welfare.
  10. Present a workshop at a school open day and make it hands on! Grab a couple of the students to have a competition on putting on PPE correctly and quickly. Here, they can learn about career paths, and industry or career opportunities. “Now your dressed and ready to become a meat inspector…”