Recruitment drive as Yorkshire chicken factory tries to keep up with demand

Middleton-on-the-Wolds based Soanes Poultry expect up to half their staff could end up self-isolating because of Covid-19 and is appealing for people "willing to do whatever it takes".

They are looking for everyone from cleaners, through to accounts staff and lorry drivers

Managing Director Nigel Upson said: "Independent retailers in our area have done an amazing job of providing fresh produce to our communities when the supermarkets couldn't.

"We have taken the decision to keep production at full tilt to continue to feed Yorkshire through this network of butchers and farm shops, but we need your help.

"At the peak of this crisis we anticipate that more than 50% of our staff will not be available for work so we need to boost numbers now to maintain throughput.

"We seek some specialist skills like accounts staff, fork lift drivers, lorry drivers and also need a strong contingent of people willing to do whatever it takes including warehouse staff, packing boxes and cleaning the factory overnight."

Applicants should send an e mail to [email protected] giving details of what work they normally do and what they are prepared to do.

Everyone will have the opportunity to visit the site for a tour before committing but applicants will have to agree to be tested for symptoms of illness before being allowed into the building.

The family-owned business employs 120 people and sells its chicken to butchers and independent retailers in Yorkshire and wholesalers nationwide.