Food industry ‘teaming with’ high quality new talent

In this video – filmed after the judging for the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards (FMEAs) for New Young Talent of the Year award – Justine Fosh, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and FMEA judge, said three things marked the entries.

“Across all different parts of the industry​ [there is a] fantastic passion,” ​she said. “The second thing that came through was just what an impact young people are making on businesses, whether that’s through added value, marketing campaigns or efficiencies and production.​

“The third thing that we saw in abundance was young people doing more than is expected from them – going that extra mile.”​

High quality of candidates ​

Watch this video to hear why Fosh praised the industry for attracting such a high quality of candidates and what her views on current training programmes were.

She also said she hoped the New Young Talent of the Year award would help break down barriers to young people from entering the sector.

The award celebrates the sector’s new entrants at apprentice, technician and graduate levels to encourage more young people to take up careers in food and drink.

About 137,000 new recruits will be needed to replace staff due to retire in the coming years, according to the food and drink sector skills council Improve.

The FMEAs take place at the Park Lane Hilton Hotel on November 20. To be the first to find out who is the inaugural recipient of New Young Talent of the Year award, book your place here.​