Skelmersdale MP praises Essity’s award-winning apprenticeship programme and people-first culture during paper manufacturing site visit

Essity is the leading global hygiene and health company whose brands include Tork, Cushelle, Plenty and Bodyform. The Skelmersdale site is one of the company’s five UK manufacturing facilities and a major employer in the town, with a workforce of over 200 people. The mill specialises in converting paper sourced from Essity’s Oakenholt and Stubbins mills into finished professional hygiene products for the Tork brand, supplying businesses, workplaces and healthcare settings across the UK and Ireland.

During the recent visit, Dalton met colleagues involved in the site’s award-winning apprenticeship programme and its successful Equipment Ownership scheme, which gives operators increased responsibility for the performance, safety and maintenance of key production lines.

She was welcomed to the facility by operations manager Alisdair Taggart, alongside HR manager Paul Barton, capability leader Tony Daly and technical apprentice Joe Sealey. The visit involved a tour of the site’s dedicated Apprentice Academy, which not only delivers structured in-house training but also services and repairs machine parts onsite, helping to reduce operational costs and giving apprentices a more comprehensive understanding of their trade.

Ashley Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, said, “Essity’s Skelmersdale site is a real success story for our area. The strength of its apprenticeship programme shows just how seriously the company takes the development of local talent. Meeting the apprentices and seeing the Training Academy first-hand made clear that this is far more than a box-ticking exercise; it’s a well-resourced pathway that gives young people confidence, skills and genuine career prospects.

“It is encouraging to see a local employer invest so actively in both its people and the wider community, and I’m proud to have such a forward-thinking organisation here in West Lancashire.”

Alisdair Taggart, operations manager at Essity Skelmersdale, added, “Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Whether through apprenticeships, ongoing skills development or colleague-led improvement projects, we want everyone here to feel supported to grow and take ownership in their roles. It was really great to welcome Ashley to the site and to showcase the brilliant work our teams are doing every day.”

Paper converting at the Skelmersdale mill began in 1983. Today, the site operates 10 converting lines and continues to invest in skills development, training and colleague-led innovation. Dalton’s praise highlights Essity’s commitment to investing in skills, people, and communities across its five manufacturing sites and four commercial offices, which together employ more than 1,600 people in the UK.

As a global leader in hygiene and health, Essity’s broader mission of breaking barriers to well-being is matched by its ongoing commitment to building a skilled and sustainable workforce for the future.

To find out more about Essity, visit: https://www.essity.com/