Unmatched People Excellence at Paper Industry Gold Awards
Our commitment to realising the potential of our people was front and centre as we took home the Skills Award at the 2024 Paper Industry Gold Awards.
The awards are organised each year by the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), of which DS Smith is a member, to recognise exceptional achievements in the industry.
DS Smith receiving the Skills Award at the 2024 Paper Industry Gold Awards.
We were recognised for our wide-ranging and comprehensive skills development work and training, especially through three of our programmes: the DS Smith Way, the DS Smith Graduate Programme, and the DS Smith Talent and Learning Programme.
DS Smith Way
Our continuous improvement programme, DS Smith Way, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. For the past decade, the programme has helped us standardise our operations based on a set of lean tools and principles to optimise performance and value.
The DS Smith Way is a highly successful programme engaging colleagues and customers to drive out waste and provide exceptional value. It allows to develop Lean skills and empowers them to find improved ways of working, leading to continuous improvement.
David Mead
Operational Excellence Director at DS Smith
DS Smith Graduate Programme
Our Graduate Programme is a serial winner: last month we received the British HR Award for Manufacturing & Engineering Company of the Year. The 2/3-year programme equips graduates with industry knowledge, essential skills, and management behaviours that our business needs now and in the future.
Thanks to the graduate programme, I've had opportunities to explore my interests, develop, and build valuable relationships with empowering colleagues. It has been an excellent launchpad for my career and I'm grateful for the learnings and experiences gained.
Shannon Jankari
HR Graduate at DS Smith
DS Smith Talent Development Plan
In partnership with our business partners and leaders, we have curated learning programmes and learning experiencesfor colleagues to learn new skills, embed new ways of working, and develop capabilities that progress careers and build a stronger business for tomorrow.
Our CPI Gold Award is fantastic endorsement of our commitment to skill development. We're proud to support our colleagues and delighted that our efforts have been acknowledged. This is a great foundation for us to do more!
Manish Amin
Head of Talent & Development for DS Smith UK Packaging
In UK Packaging, the Talent & Development programme has focused on leveraging our leadership capability.
The programme has delivered real benefits, which I've seen first-hand. Each session is unique and we've had some excellent key speakers, giving everyone food for thought and ideas for driving change.
Ross Mould
Head of Operations & Supply Chain for DS Smith UK Sheet Plants
