Delivering Training Excellence
18 Jul 2024
Ritchie Rackham MCQI CQP delivers Food Safety and ISO Management Systems courses for Intertek Academy in the UK and shares insight with Natalie Courtney into what makes a great trainer and tips for those considering a similar career path.
How did you your career start?
My first job in the food industry was on a food production line sprinkling cheese on lasagnes! Eager for more challenging and exciting roles, I then took up various food safety and QSHE roles in Afghanistan, Israel, Syria and Africa, Middle East and Malaysia. When the mosquitos finally got the better of me, I returned to the UK and set up my own training and consultancy business.
You are a highly rated trainer – what’s your secret?
It’s about keeping people engaged. Standards can be quite technical, detailed, and precise, so a little bit of humour, regular short breaks and a chat on a different subject really keeps people focussed on the subject. I also tend not to give homework because after 8 hours talking about standards the last thing you want to do in the evening is to sit and do another few hours studying. I find people come back the next day a lot more refreshed and a lot happier without homework.
I also believe that if someone is doing a 45-minute exercise and they’ve grasped the exercise in 5 mins, let’s move on. I don’t want people sitting getting bored as that’s when they switch off. If I think they have got it, we go on to talk about something completely different, or a new part of the standard and a subject they might not know so much about.
Ritchie Rackham in Liberia with a team of Warehouse operatives who received, picked, and dispatched rations to UN Contingents. Ritchie was there to deliver ISO 22000 training and conduct a pre-audit gap analysis.
How do you find delivering training in the virtual world?
Although I prefer face to face which is more conducive to interaction and personalities shining through, I am perfectly happy delivering virtually. From a personal viewpoint it’s a perfect work-life balance so I’m at home enjoying family life, and virtual learning gets the same results as face to face.
You are a qualified Auditor and Trainer – which do you prefer?
I love both roles but at the end of the day I am a sociable person and enjoy meeting new people so it’s got to be training!
How do you switch off in your spare time?
I’m a risk taker and like fast things so I’m a keen motorcyclist and fast car enthusiast. I am also an avid metal detectorist and I love history. I go to the gym six days a week and believe an active body creates an active mind and more energy.
What advice would you give those at the start of their career journey?
- Don’t be afraid to say what’s on your mind
- Always be the positive person
- Enjoy what you do and a job is easy
If you can go to work with a smile on your face, and have a laugh and a joke with colleagues, leave knowing you have affected some people in a good way, that’s a good thing.
Of course, food safety is a serious topic and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Sometimes those in technical and quality roles are seen as the ‘police’ of the site, but one of my best friends is a policeman and he’s a nice guy and enjoys a laugh, so we can too; it helps to keep up team morale.
Get as much ‘hands on’ experience as possible. Start by sprinkling cheese on a lasagne, putting products onto a pallet, working in Goods In, Despatch. Learn every aspect of the food industry and once you start moving up, it becomes easier and easier because you can relate to what actually happens.
Finally, accept every training opportunity. If a company is willing to invest in you to make you more skilled and knowledgeable, that’s a great thing.
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