WORK EXPERIENCE
The Food and
Drink Federation
is championing
the Diploma in
manufacturing and product
design. Angela Coleshill
discusses the importance
of work experience in
training young people and
looks at what the industry
has to offer
T IS certainly not recession-proof, but the
I
food and drink sector has been weathering the
current economic downturn better than most
Inside the
manufacturing industries.
And as the biggest employer in
manufacturing, the food and drink sector
remains committed to providing young people
with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the
wealth of exciting and challenging careers on offer.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) represents
the interests of food and drink companies across the
UK, which between them directly employ a staggering
food industry
440,000 people in a huge variety of roles – from
scientists, food technologists, engineers and technicians,
to marketers and salesman.
As part of our skills pledge, FDF is committed
to improving the image of our sector as a career
destination of choice for young people. well as giving them a chance to experience the process
We are also championing the Diploma in of biscuit making.
manufacturing and product design, one of the 14 In conjunction with the Hillingdon Business Forum,
new Diploma qualifications currently being rolled United Biscuits recently supported a BTEC National
out, to offer young people the chance to gain a real Award in the business syllabus for year 13 students at
understanding of the practical skills and knowledge Rosedale College in Hayes.
required to work in manufacturing. A whole module and assignment was based around
We recognise that offering work experience is a United Biscuits for 10 weeks and the students’ work
practical way of allowing employers to capture the counted towards their qualification.
imagination of young people and help them decide The students were taken on a visit to United Biscuit’s
upon a future career path – and many of our members factory in Harlesden; they were asked to consider the
are opening their doors to students to show them how increasing consumer interest in health and nutrition
exciting the food industry can be. and present their ideas for new products with a healthy
Macphie of Glenbervie, a family company in nutritional profile. The students presented their projects
Scotland which produces a range of food ingredients, to the Hillingdon Business Forum, and then presented
is one such firm. It has strong links with a number their final ideas to the team at United Biscuits.
of schools and universities, and regularly welcomes Julia Fitzgerald, Hillingdon Business Forum
students on work experience programmes. manager, said: “Bringing employers and schools
Students are able to spend time in all departments together to support students in their curriculum studies,
such as production, marketing and product design – and as United Biscuits has done, is a fantastic way of
they get a taste for project management, working with getting students to link their academic work to their
staff on real business initiatives. employability in the future.
All of this gives students an invaluable insight to the “Through their visits to both the factory in Harlesden Hands on experience: The United Biscuits factory (main image), while some of the Scottish
way the whole business operates and highlights that the and the head office in Hayes, the students see that students who took on the Industry Schools Challenge with Macphie are pictured (above)
opportunities available are not just factory based. aspects of the Business BTEC National Award are
Macphie runs a number of initiatives with local relevant to the world of work which gives them an Back at Macphie, Ms Halkerston says she regularly opportunity to experience as many different roles as
schools to show the sector as an attractive place extra incentive. sees young people come into the company with possible within the business – from office work to
to be. Some examples include the Industry Schools “The module also illustrates the range of preconceived ideas about the food industry, expecting engineering – during a one or two-week placement.
Challenge, where pupils get an insight into running opportunities available in an international organisation everything to be cloth caps and wellington boots. Mr Bevan explained: “For these younger students,
their own business. such as United Biscuits, which in turn can have a Providing students with first-hand experience of the it’s a risk-free way of them finding out what different
Organised into “companies”, they are given a new positive impact on their choice of further education, business allows Macphie to prove these preconceived jobs involve and opening up opportunities that they
product development brief and they are immersed and the careers they may enter in the future – potentially ideas are nothing like the reality. may not even have thought of.
in all areas of manufacturing and product design with United Biscuits.” Edward Bevan, learning and development advisor “They can get a feel for what may interest them
– manufacturing, packaging design and marketing – in Andrew Newall, United Biscuits’ group HR director, at Müller Dairy, a leading British yoghurt producer, before they have made firm decisions about their choice
order to create a healthy new muffin or pizza. Their added: “Research shows that some young people view agrees with that philosophy. of career. From our perspective, it’s a great opportunity
hard work is then displayed at a trade fair and they manufacturing jobs as ‘dirty’ and ‘boring’. We hope He said: “Offering work experience is an area which to showcase the business – we try to make their work
perform a radio jingle to promote their product. offering a chance to see the variety of jobs available we will continue to be investing in as encouraging experience varied, enjoyable and exciting by involving
Since Macphie’s first challenge in 2001, more than will make them realise the exciting career opportunities young people to consider a career in the dairy industry them as much as we can in the day-to-day operations
2,000 local secondary and primary schools have risen to in this sector. and giving them an insight into what that entails is all of the business.
the Macphie School’s Challenge. In addition, Macphie “In addition to work experience and careers advice, part of our business philosophy.” “They usually go away buzzing and that’s great for
has also created a larger than life mascot “Professor this year we launched a new graduate programme Müller offers work placements at various levels us as a business as they want to tell all of their friends
Macphie” who goes into schools to educate pupils offering jobs in a range of functions, including from GCSE through to post-graduate and vocational and family about how great it is to work at Müller,” he
about the importance of science in food. manufacturing, procurement and marketing, on a fast- training such as NVQ Apprenticeships. The company added.
Macphie has found that students who have completed track development programme to help graduates meet is committed to offering about 20 work experience With the A level and graduate students, the approach
their work experience programme, and enjoyed their their full potential.” placements each year to students at all levels – from is more focused, with all students at this level being set
first taste of the industry, often return on university There is no doubt that the food industry does suffer year 11 through to 6th form as well as under-graduates an actual assignment or project which they need to
placements, Apprenticeship schemes, or to start their from a poor image among young people – something and post-graduates. complete during their stay.
careers in food manufacturing. we have to do a better job at improving. For year 11 students, the aim is to give them the Mr Bevan explained: “For the student, it means that
Despite the recession, Macphie has continued to they have an opportunity to roll up their sleeves and
expand its work experience programme. actually get some practical ‘hands-on’ experience on
Sylvia Halkerston, the company’s HR director,
explained: “Although times are tough, if you don’t
take students on work experience, where do these
young people get their experience for the future? When
students are ready to make a career choice, if you don’t
open your doors to them, they won’t count you in that
‘
Although times are tough, if you don’t take
a real project so they get to put the theories they have
been studying into practice. And it really suits us as it
provides us with an extra person to take on a specific
students on work experience, where do
task.”
Food companies recognise that it is in their best
choice.”
these young people get their experience for the
interest to offer placements to young people – arguably
it is one of their strongest recruitment tools.
United Biscuits is another FDF member taking a
proactive approach to encouraging young people into future? When students are ready to make a career
And even in the current economic climate, FDF
members are continuing to support young people’s
our industry. career aspirations and inform them about the many
The company has a range of initiatives, including a
choice, if you don’t open your doors to them,
rewarding opportunities that are available in our
primary school programme, a new graduate programme, industry. SecEd
a Master’s programme, as well as the more traditional
work experience opportunities, which aim to expose
they won’t count you in that choice
students to different careers within the company, as
’
• Angela Coleshill is human resources director with the
Food and Drink Federation. Visit www.fdf.org.uk
SecEd • January 14 2010 15
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