Fresh Produce Journal – 17th September 2020

Redfox and Management Development Services (MDS) have announced a new initiative to help MDS graduates secure roles with horticultural businesses.

MDS is the leading training provider in the fresh produce sector, and has expanded steadily as companies seek to safeguard their future by attracting and providing training for the highest-calibre recruits. A number of the latest crop of graduates will hit the job market this year looking for roles in technical, operational and commercial capacities.

Today, the programme encompasses the whole supply chain of vegetables, salads, fruit, flowers, plants, arable and prepared food products, both in UK and globally. Graduates of the MDS scheme all complete four secondments over two years within these types of businesses, coming away with the skillset to become leaders, forward thinkers and proactive team players, proficient in key areas such as negotiation and problem solving, communication and leadership.

Fresh food recruitment consultancy Redfox explained that under the new initiative it will be “deploying its significant UK and international networks to assist MDS graduates to source new roles over and above the existing MDS networks.” The company will be running a series of marketing initiatives to promote the graduates to potential new employers and to promote the aims of MDS.

MDS chair Christine Tacon said: “It is imperative that the sector looks at the amazing individuals completing the MDS scheme who will be to their benefit. They have the potential to be future leaders for the sectors as has been proven numerous times before with previous MDS graduates.”

Redfox director Max MacGillivray added: “A number of our clients are ex-MDS and the difference that they have made to businesses throughout their career has been significant. Today there is a great opportunity for forward-thinking companies to duplicate that success by taking on an MDS graduate.”