The first batch of the full time jobs will begin in May, when the thinning of fruit takes place in the orchards, through to picking fruit in the orchards from August and then working in the packhouse through to May 2017.
75-100 thinners, who will work in the orchards from May-late June/July
400 harvest crew, who will work in the orchards from Late August to November
55 packhouse workers, who will work at Flanders Farm, Hoo from September to May
Gayle Goatham, HR Manager at AC Goatham & Son, comments: “We have a significant number of seasonal, full time jobs available and we are looking for people with a variety of skills to join the team. Many people join over the summer months and stay on for as long as possible, moving from role to role. We are looking for people who are physically fit, flexible, as the teams work in shifts and will enjoy working both inside and outside, in all weather. This is hard work but financially rewarding and many people have gone on to other senior roles within the organisation, who started off as part of the picking or packing team several years ago.”
AC Goatham & Son is also supporting local mums back into full time work with flexible working hours in their head office team. Directors’ Assistant Nickola Caney, a single mum has been able to transition from flexible part time to full time, along with other returning mum’s Liz Worne and Lauren Eames in the accounts team.
Gayle Goatham continues: “I’m a working mum myself with young children, so I know how difficult it can be to juggle both roles. Being a family owned business, we are happy to help all our workers to manage their working hours where possible, to help ensure they have a better work/life balance.”
AC Goatham & Son has 17 farms and 20 partner farms across Medway and Kent and grows 1 in 4.5 of the British apples sold in the UK and 1 in 3 conference pears, growing in total around 150 million apples each year.
