Nestlé boss invites teachers to spend day in a factory
In this exclusive video, Nestlé’s technical director Richard Martin said the idea could prove a powerful way of recruiting a new generation of skilled students into food and drink manufacturing. “We’d like to see teachers spend one day a year in industry so that they can understand what the modern world of work is all about,” said Martin.
“I’ve heard teachers say to children it they don’t work hard, they will end up working in a factory.”
‘End up working in a factory’
The video interview was filmed at the launch this week of a new three-year plan, called Your Life, designed to encourage school children to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects) in preparation for a career in manufacturing.
The campaign aimed to raise up take of science and maths A’ levels by 50% and boost awareness of the career opportunities created by studying STEM subjects. It will also promote positive engineering role models in industry, create mentoring programmes for young people and work placements in leading businesses.
The UK food and drink sector will need to attract 170,300 recruits with strong STEM skills by 2020, said Martin, who is a member of the Your Life advisory board.
More on Nestlé’s support for the Your Life initiative is available here.
Meanwhile, during the launch in London, the boss of Ford Europe Barb Samardzich explained how her college career adviser had recommended ditching her passion for engineering in favour of a role as a social worker.
