As part of the three-day visit, which focused on the different warehouse roles available at the Sigma facility, the students were given a tour of the entire site in Normanton. It is widely acknowledged that there is a growing demand for warehouse employees across the UK.

All three college students that spent time at Sigma completed the internal General Health, Safety and Environmental Awareness course before getting hands-on experience doing a selection of tasks. These ranged from doing informative sessions about the 360° supply chain, to spending time with the Sigma team, experiencing specific jobs including quality control, storage, distribution and project management, not to mention interacting with clients.

Debbie Lee, Employer Engagement Manager at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group said: “The team at Sigma has been hugely supportive of our students. They have shown a real commitment to encouraging our students to look at the potential career options in the warehousing industry, providing them with a few days valuable hands-on work experience, giving them an understanding of what working in the sector would be like.”

Gavin Nicholson, Supply Chain Operations Manager at Sigma said “We were extremely happy to welcome these local students and delighted with their attitude and dedication during their placements. We would strongly encourage them to send-in their CVs to us once they complete their education, we are likely to have both full-time and part-time opportunities.”

Following the success of the student placements, Sigma is looking to continue its relationship with the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, providing further support and placement opportunities to the interested students within the Yorkshire region.

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group was formed following a merger between Wakefield College and Selby College, as well as the addition of Castleford College in early 2022, and represents over 9,000 individuals undertaking full-time courses, higher education and apprenticeships.