Food firms should do more to help unemployed: IGD

By Mike Stones

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Food Igd

Food and drink manufacturers should do more to help unemployed youth, said Joanne Denney-Finch
Food and drink manufacturers should do more to help unemployed youth, said Joanne Denney-Finch
Food and drink manufacturers should do more to help young and unemployed people into work, said Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive IGD.

Speaking at the organisation’s skills summit in London today (June 13) Denney-Finch said: “Most of the time young people just need a chance. And as the food industry employs 3.6M people, right across the country, we are in a position to be able to provide that chance.

“Many companies in the supply chain already help disadvantaged groups, and while we can’t help all 1M young unemployed people, we can and must do even more.”

Denney-Finch said there were three reasons why manufacturers, retailers, farmers and everyone in the food industry should get involved with Feeding Britain’s Future. “First, this is a chance to put something back into the community – which makes good business sense,” ​she said.

Good business sense

“Second, it’s an opportunity to help young unemployed people, so it is an investment in the future.

“Third, our Skills for Work Week provides a means of communicating directly with thousands of young people to help dispel the myths about working in a supermarket or food manufacturer.”

After hosting a youth forum last month attended by 70 young people, Denney-Finch said many lack confidence and feel they are not being given a chance.

Denney-Finch was speaking at the IGD’s skills summit on the progress of Feeding Britain’s Future – Skills for Work Week.

More than 50 firms have signed up to the initiative. IGD hoped they will create thousands of opportunities for 16-24-year-old unemployed people to experience job interviews, learn about CV writing and get a taste of work during one week from 17 September 2012.

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