3rd Oct 2013 - 08:42
Image
Abstract
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has announced this week that over 1,600 students, teachers and careers advisors will go behind the scenes of some of Britain’s top food and drink manufacturing companies during October as part of the ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ (SIM) programme.
SIM is a programme run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in conjunction with organisations such as FDF, the voice of UK food and drink manufacturing sector, which aims to improve the image of manufacturing and inspire young people to consider careers in sectors such as food and drink.
Food and drink manufacturing companies taking part include: British Sugar, Coca-Cola Enterprises, KP Snacks, Mars, Mondelēz International, Nestlè, PepsiCo, Thorntons plc and Wrigley’s.
This year’s SIM activity began this week at Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE) site in Edmonton. Joined by CCE’s executive management team, students from Preston Manor High School explored CCE’s Education Centre, an on-site space which offers student groups subject-related insight into the production process.
Students were also given a tour of the production where Coca-Cola is made and bottled and the chance to question CCE’s executive management team on their career path.
Business minister Michael Fallon said: "See Inside Manufacturing gives young people the oportunity to see exactly how manufacturing works on a day to day basis, dispelling old myths about factories and inspiring the next generation of engineers. So far the scheme has been hugely successful in doing this, with nearly nine in ten participants saying they would now think about a career in manufacturing."
Melanie Leech, director general at Food and Drink Federation, added: "We are delighted that so many students will have the opportunity to learn more about our sector in October. The food and drink manufacturing industry is a dynamic and innovative sector with a wealth of different roles available."