LOCAL bakers John Pimblett and Sons Ltd. were among a select band of Merseyside-based examples of commitment to training saluted at the National Training Awards regional presentation at Manchester Airport.

Also honoured were Knowsley Council's finance department, and cooker manufacturers Stoves Ltd. of Stoney Lane, Whiston.

Pimbletts and Knowsley's finance department also went on to be further recognised with a national award (reported earlier in the St Helens Star).

Well-established family firm Pimbletts, with 13 retail outlets in the St Helens area, were commended for the successful implementation of a training initiative which set out to increase business growth and develop all retail staff. The programme succeeded in increasing gross profit despite difficult trading conditions caused by beef scares, a hot summer and new competition.

Marketing co-ordinator Lin Pimblett says: "The training programme has acted as a stepping stone towards future plans by strengthening our determination to succeed and showing us what is possible. With this in mind we plan to invest £2 million in a new purpose-built bakery and extend the training programme to bakery staff."

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