FDF launches regional apprenticeship roadshows

The FDF will be working with its key partners - the National Apprenticeship Service and the National Skills Academy for food and drink - to run events across the UK including the West Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire. They will be kicking off their road show during the Food and Drink Expo at the NEC Birmingham on the afternoon of Monday 26th March. These workshops are designed to assist food businesses who want to understand the business benefits of apprenticeships or who are interested in expanding their existing activity. Speakers will be on hand from the National Apprenticeship Service and the National Skills Academy for food and drink who will give food manufacturers advice on how to get the most from apprenticeships. Representatives from food manufacturers will be sharing their experiences, as well as apprentices themselves who will give the low down on their new careers. In addition, the FDF is also working hard to raise awareness of career opportunities in the food industry amongst young people and promoting the food industry as an exciting industry to be in. For example, they are working with Not Going to University to show young people that they can enter the food industry through a variety of routes – not just by having a degree. Angela Coleshill, FDF's director of competitiveness, said: "There is certainly appetite for investment in skills, which is why FDF members are taking collective action to help us build a pool of talented apprentices that can be developed and deployed across the industry – building skills for the future. "There is still work to be done to communicate to young people the wide variety of exciting roles on offer in the food industry, many of which are highlighted through some inspiring case studies on our website."