Food and drink manufacturers to host school visits

The initiative, See Inside Manufacturing, from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) aims to persuade a range of factories to open their doors and inspire school children to consider careers in manufacturing.

Angela Coleshill, the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF’s) director of competitiveness, told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Young people often have mis-conceptions about what it’s like inside a food factory and the sorts of careers available. That’s something we’re trying to address as part of our ‘Taste Success’ careers campaign. ​

“Initiatives such as ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ provide young people with a great opportunity to see for themselves what manufacturing is all about.”​

Opening factory doors​

Coleshill added: “… by opening their factory doors, companies can give young people a real flavour of the wide range of exciting and rewarding careers open to them in the industry, whilst positively attracting talent to the sector.”​

Food Manufacture​ is organising a free skills seminar on how food and drink manufacturers can attract a new generation of talent. For more details about the event, due to take place on the morning of Monday March 26 at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, see below.

About 137,000 new recruits will be needed to replace those planning to retire over the next five years, according to Improve, the sector skills council for food and drink manufacture.

The FDF said that it was too early to tell how many youngsters would take part in the initiative. “We are in the process of talking to our members about their participation in the programme, and will be announcing in the coming months which companies are involved and the activities they will be undertaking.”​

Speaking at the launch of initiative this week, business minister Mark Prisk said: “It’s great news that we are rolling out See Inside Manufacturing following a successful trial last year. This year we are proud to welcome the food and drink industry into the scheme, in addition to the automotive and aerospace and defence industries.” ​

Modern manufacturing ​

Prisk said: “We want to demonstrate the true value of manufacturing, and this will give young people the chance to see the exciting face of modern manufacturing - highly skilled, high tech and highly paid.”​

Meanwhile, our sister title Food Manufacture​ in conjunction with the Institute of Food Science and Technology is staging a free skills seminar for HR directors and managers.

On offer will be a wealth of information about the latest manufacturing apprenticeship schemes and a new transferable skills initiative.

For more information about the event, which will take place at the NEC on the morning of Monday March 26, or to book your free place, click here or contact Hannah Rosevear on 01293 610431 or email Hannah.Rosevear@wrbm.com​.