Lean & Continuous Improvement
Practical Lean tools, workplace problem‑solving, and continuous improvement methods that transform teams and operations.
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What Lean & CI Delivers
Reduce Waste
Identify inefficiencies, eliminate recurring issues, and remove the 8 wastes (TIMWOODS) from daily operations.
Improve Flow
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Design processes that move smoothly, reduce delays, and increase productivity across teams and departments.
Build Capability
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Equip teams with practical Lean tools, problem‑solving methods, and continuous improvement skills they can apply immediately.
Green Circular Economy
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Connect Lean efficiency with environmental impact — reduce waste, lower carbon output, and support circular economy practices.
Lean Academy — Professional Lean & CI Training Modules
Practical Lean tools, workplace problem‑solving, and continuous improvement methods that transform teams and operations.
5S Workplace Organisation
Create a clean, efficient, and well‑structured workspace that supports productivity and safety.
Half-day - From £95pp
Visual Workplace
Improve clarity, reduce errors, and make processes easier to follow with strong visual controls.
Half-day - From £95pp.
Problem Solving
Equip teams with structured tools to identify root causes and eliminate recurring issues.
Half-day - From £95pp
Kaizen Rapid Improvement
Deliver fast, team‑led improvements using proven Kaizen principles and facilitation techniques.
Half-day/Full-day - From £95pp
Process Mapping & Flow Process Analysis
Map processes, identify bottlenecks, and uncover waste to improve flow and efficiency.
Half-day - From £95pp
Set-Up Reduction SMED)
Reduce changeover time and increase throughput with structured SMED methodology.
Full-day - From £175pp
Standardisation/SOPs
Create clear, consistent standards and visual SOPs that support quality and repeatability.
Half-day - From £95pp
Value Stream Mapping
Map end‑to‑end processes and design future‑state workflows that deliver measurable improvement.
Half-day - From £95pp
Making Materials Flow
Improve layout, reduce motion waste, and streamline material movement across the workplace.
Full-day - From £175pp
Engaging Leadership & Coaching for Performance
Develop leaders who can coach, motivate, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
Full-day - From £175pp
Lean Culture & Behaviours
Build the mindset, habits, and behaviours needed to sustain Lean thinking across teams.
Half-day - From £95pp
Continuous Improvement Foundations
A practical introduction to CI tools, techniques, and daily improvement routines.
Half-day - From £95 pp
Manufacturing Training & Development
Funded workforce qualifications, pre-employment pathways, employer bootcamps, commercial CI modules, and accredited online courses — built around your production processes, your standards, and your people.
Matrix Standard · Cyber Essentials Plus · Disability Confident Employer
Funded Workforce Training
Accredited, workplace-based qualifications that develop your production staff while improving quality, safety, and efficiency on the line. This NVQ programme is assessed in the workplace — learners build a portfolio of evidence around their day-to-day manufacturing activities, so your business benefits from real, measurable improvements as they train. All programmes embed Green Circular Economy principles by default, helping you reduce waste and improve sustainability alongside performance.
Funded Workforce Training
Accredited, workplace-based qualifications that develop your employees while delivering real improvements on your shop floor. These NVQ programmes are assessed in the workplace — learners build a portfolio of evidence around live improvement activities, so your business sees results from day one. All programmes embed Green Circular Economy principles by default, helping you reduce waste and improve sustainability alongside performance.
Course #01
EAL
Level 2
EAL NVQ Level 2 in Performing Manufacturing Operations
Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Manufacturing Operations
A practical, workplace-based qualification that introduces learners to core business improvement tools and techniques. Learners apply 5S, problem solving, and process improvement methods to real tasks in your workplace — building evidence while making genuine improvements to quality, efficiency, and waste reduction.
Outcomes:
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Demonstrate competence in core manufacturing operations and processes
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Apply quality control checks to reduce defects and rework
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Use structured problem-solving to address production issues
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Work safely and in line with statutory regulations
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Build a portfolio of evidence from real workplace activities
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Gain a nationally recognised Level 2 qualification
Duration: Typically 3–4 months
Funding: Funded (subject to eligibility)
Course #02
Highfield
Level 2
Highfield Level 2 Industrial Environment Awareness
Highfield Level 2 Award in Industrial Environment Awareness
An essential introduction to working in manufacturing and industrial environments. Learners explore health and safety, sustainability, effective working practices, and the structure of industrial organisations. Builds confidence and readiness for candidates entering production, processing, or engineering support roles for the first time.
Outcomes:
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Understand health and safety requirements in industrial environments
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Recognise sustainability and environmental responsibilities
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Demonstrate effective working practices in a manufacturing setting
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Understand the structure and function of industrial organisations
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Build confidence for a first role in manufacturing or production
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Gain a nationally recognised Level 2 qualification
Duration: 2-3 days
Funding: Funded (subject to eligibility)
Funded Pre-Employment Training
Short, focused qualifications that prepare individuals for work in manufacturing and food production environments. Ideal for unemployed adults, career changers, and employers running pre-employment or onboarding programmes. These courses build practical knowledge of industrial safety, food hygiene, and Lean awareness that learners can apply from their first day on the line. Delivered 100% face-to-face with a practical, supportive approach.
Course #03
Highfield
Level 2
Highfield Level 2 Award in HACCP for Food Manufacturing
Highfield Level 2 Award in HACCP for Food Manufacturing
A focused qualification covering the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in a food manufacturing context. Learners understand how to identify hazards, set critical control points, manage contamination risks, and maintain safe food production processes. Essential for anyone working in food manufacturing, packaging, or processing roles.
Outcomes:
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Understand the principles and importance of HACCP in food manufacturing
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Identify hazards and implement critical control points
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Recognise and manage contamination risks
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Understand documentation and monitoring requirements
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Apply safe food production processes in a manufacturing environment
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Gain a Highfield-accredited Level 2 qualification
Duration: 1 day
Funding: Funded (subject to eligibility)
Sector tag: Food Manufacturing
Course #04
Highfield
Level 2
Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Manufacturing
Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Manufacturing
A core food safety qualification tailored to manufacturing environments. Covers hygiene standards, contamination control, temperature management, personal hygiene, and safe production practices. Required by many food manufacturing employers and a prerequisite for anyone handling food in a production setting.
Outcomes:
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Understand food safety hazards and how to control them
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Apply personal hygiene standards in a food manufacturing environment
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Manage temperature control and storage requirements
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Prevent cross-contamination across production lines
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Understand legal responsibilities around food safety
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Gain a Highfield-accredited Level 2 qualification
Duration: 1 day
Funding: Funded (subject to eligibility)
Sector tag: Food Manufacturing
Bootcamps
Intensive, employer-focused programmes that build internal improvement capability in your manufacturing operation. Our bootcamps combine classroom learning with a live workplace project, so learners deliver measurable results on your production line while they train. Ideal for employers who want to develop self-sufficient improvement teams.
Bootcamp #01
IASSC Aligned
Level 2
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Bootcamp
An intensive programme covering the full DMAIC methodology (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control). Learners develop structured problem-solving skills, data analysis capability, and project delivery experience. Each learner completes a live improvement project on your production line, delivering measurable ROI before the bootcamp ends. Aligned with IASSC Green Belt standards and particularly effective for manufacturers dealing with quality defects, yield loss, and process variation.
Outcomes:
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Master the DMAIC improvement methodology end to end
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Lead a live improvement project with measurable business impact
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Apply statistical and data analysis tools to real production data
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Reduce defects, variation, and waste in manufacturing processes
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Develop sustainable control plans that lock in gains
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Build internal capability to lead future improvement initiatives
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IASSC Green Belt aligned
Cost: £3,500 per learner (10% employer contribution)
Duration: 3 months
Funding: Employer-funded
Bootcamp#02
Lean + Sustainability
Introductory to Intermediate
Lean Green Circular Economy Bootcamp
A modern Lean programme that integrates sustainability, waste reduction, and circular economy principles — highly relevant to modern manufacturing operations under pressure to cut costs and environmental impact simultaneously. Learners apply traditional Lean tools (5S, waste elimination, process mapping) alongside circular economy thinking to reduce scrap, energy use, and material waste while improving output and quality.
Outcomes:
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Apply Lean tools through a circular economy lens in a manufacturing context
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Identify and reduce both operational and environmental waste on the production line
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Build improvement initiatives that support carbon-reduction and sustainability goals
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Deliver a live workplace project with measurable sustainability and performance gains
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Develop a practical understanding of Green Circular Economy principles
Cost: £3,500 per learner (10% employer contribution)
Duration: 3 months
Funding: Employer-funded
Commercial Short Courses
Ten high-impact Lean & CI modules, available as standalone courses or combined into a tailored programme. Pick the modules that address your specific manufacturing challenges, or let us design a bespoke package around your improvement goals. Every module is delivered by experienced practitioners and tailored to your production environment.
Modules:
5S Workplace Organisation
Sort, set in order, shine, standardise, and sustain — the foundation of any improvement culture.
Duration: Halfday
Visual Workplace
Make performance, standards, and abnormalities visible at a glance with visual management systems.
Duration: Halfday
Problem Solving
Structured problem-solving tools including 5 Whys, Fishbone, and A3 thinking.
Duration: 1-day
Kaizen Rapid Improvement
Plan and deliver a rapid improvement event that delivers results in days, not months.
Duration: 1-2 day
Process Mapping & Flow Process Analysis
Map your current processes, identify bottlenecks and non-value-added steps, and redesign for flow.
Duration: 1 day
Set-Up Reduction (SMED)
Reduce changeover times and increase flexibility using Single-Minute Exchange of Die principles.
Duration: 1 day
Standardisation / SOPs
Create clear, usable standard operating procedures that sustain improvements and reduce variation.
Duration: Halfday
Value Stream Mapping
Map the full value stream end to end, see the flow of material and information, and design the future state.
Duration: 1 day
Making Materials Flow
Design and implement material flow systems that reduce handling, motion waste, and lead times.
Duration: 1 day
Engaging Leadership & Coaching for Performance
Equip leaders to coach, engage, and sustain a continuous improvement culture in their teams.
Duration: 1 day
Delivery option
Open Courses
Per-person booking on scheduled dates. Ideal for individuals or small teams.
Employer Sessions
Group bookings with discounted rates. Tailored to your sector and workplace
Workplace Workshops
On-site delivery at your premises. Fully contextualised to your processes and challenges
Online courses (Highfield referral)
Manufacturing-Relevant Online Courses
Prefer to learn online? We partner with Highfield Qualifications to offer a range of accredited e-learning courses relevant to manufacturing and production environments. These self-paced qualifications cover the same core content as our classroom courses, with the flexibility to fit learning around shift patterns and production schedules.
Available online courses include:
Courses List:
Level 2 Industrial Environment Awareness
Level 2 HACCP for Manufacturing
Level 2 Food Safety for Manufacturing
Level 2 Health & Safety
Level 2 Manual Handling
Level 2 Fire Safety
Level 2 COSHH
Level 2 Working at Height
Level 2 Conflict Management
Level 2 Customer Service
GDPR & Data Protection
Online course
Regulated / must-have employer compliance
Essential compliance training that keeps your manufacturing workforce safe, legal, and protected. Delivered face-to-face or online, these short courses meet regulatory requirements and can be bundled with any manufacturing programme for a complete workforce development package.
Mandatory / Regulated
Required by law or industry regulation for most manufacturing operations. Food manufacturing employers must also complete HACCP and Food Safety Level 2.
compliance pills:
Health & Safety
Manual Handling
Fire Safety
Asbestos Awareness
Working at Height
Food Safety Level 2
COSHH
HACCP Level 2
Strongly Recommended
Not legally required, but strongly recommended for manufacturing employers who want to build a safe, professional, and customer-ready workforce.
compliance pills:
Conflict Management
Customer Service
Environmental Awareness
Why Choose UTraining
We are a North East training provider focused on real workplace improvement, not box-ticking. Our delivery is 100% face-to-face, practical, and tailored to your production environment — so training translates into better quality, output, and performance on the line.
Accredited Qualifications
All our manufacturing courses are accredited by recognised awarding bodies including EAL and Highfield. Your learners gain qualifications that carry weight with employers, inspectors, and auditors.
Employer-Aligned Delivery
We build programmes around your production processes, your standards, and your goals. Training happens in your workplace, on real tasks — not in a classroom talking about theory.
Sector-Specific Pathways
From high-volume manufacturing and processing to food production and packaging, we tailor content and examples to your specific sector. Learners see relevance from day one.
Flexible Delivery
Face-to-face at your premises, open courses at scheduled venues, or online through our Highfield partnership. We adapt to shift patterns and production schedules.
Newcastle-Based, National Reach
Proudly based in the North East, serving Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Northumberland — with growing national partnerships for manufacturers further afield.
Quality-Assured and Trusted
Matrix Standard accredited, Cyber Essentials Plus certified, and a Disability Confident Employer. We hold ourselves to the same standards we help you achieve.
Ready to Develop Your Workforce?
Tell us about your team and your improvement goals. We will design a programme that fits your workplace, your sector, and your timeline — and help you access funding where available.