Bakkavor Desserts has been celebrating the long service of 75 members of staff at its Newark site – marking 10, 20 and 25-years of service.

During the staff celebration events, the long serving Newark colleagues were invited to a celebratory lunch, received anniversary gifts and a thank you voucher ranging from £100 up to £300.

Among those receiving awards was engineer Jason Bell, who said: “Bakkavor has been a great employer and has really supported me through some personal struggles as well as professionally, since being here it’s also given me many opportunities and the people continue to be fantastic.”

Kerry Davies, shift planning manager, added: “I joined Bakkavor straight from school and since then I’ve gone from working on the line to being a supervisor and now I’m a shift planning manager. The people really make it for me and everyone I work with day to day feel less like colleagues but family.”

Dawood Hussain, head of finance, Bakkavor Desserts, Newark, said: “I joined Bakkavor as part of the graduate scheme just over 20 years ago and, since then, the company has provided me with so many amazing opportunities to get where I am today.

“I’ve been supported by great learning tools, experienced colleagues and I really enjoy the fast pace of the business.”

Andrjez Szokalski, general manager – operations at Bakkavor Desserts Newark, said: “We are so proud to be a local business they want to work for – and, more important, a business they want to stay with.

“To have so many colleagues celebrating long service with us is the measure of what we try to achieve – to create a family atmosphere, to support career development and giving our colleague a package of benefits that rewards their hard work and encourages long-term loyalty.

“We are currently advertising for new roles, and are looking to invest in our next generation of talent at Newark.”