Each of the 40 students accepted onto the course – the MEng food engineering master’s degree which begins at Sheffield Hallam University in September 2014 – will be offered a first year bursary of £2,500.
Students will also benefit from placements every year from year one, paid at the rate of £15,000 to £17,000 pro rata.
The bursary, providing £1,500 as the first payment and a subsequent £1,000, will offer a viable solution to cash-strapped, would-be food engineers across the country, said the FDF.
Cash-strapped, would-be food engineers
Angela Coleshill, FDF director of employment and skills, said the FDF was delighted to offer students a competitive bursary.
“Students’ fees play a huge part in higher education and we hope this bursary will demonstrate the benefits of joining our industry,” said Coleshill.
“As the largest manufacturing sector, our success depends on our ability to remain competitive; without the right skills and talent behind it, our industry won’t meet future challenges. This degree and the competitive bursaries available will not only help equip graduates with the right skills that our industry needs but also assist with the financial burden many students face today.”
Earn while they learn
The MEng Food Engineering master’s degree is Britain’s first academic qualification dedicated solely to food and drink manufacturing. The bursaries and paid work placements meant that students would be able to earn while they learn while “making essential links to industry and the all-important career opportunities for the future”, said the federation.
The food and drink industry – the UK’s largest manufacturing sector – will need an estimated 170,300 new recruits by 2020, it has been calculated.
The food engineering course was developed by Graduate Excellence, a partnership between the FDF, the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink and Sheffield Hallam University.
Food and drink manufacturers supporting the course include: Premier Foods, Arla Foods, Burton’s Biscuit Company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Mondelēz International, Nestlé UK and others.
Meanwhile, last week millionaire TV chef Jamie Oliver caused controversy by claiming British youth was “wet behind the ears” and didn’t work as hard as migrant workers.
“I think our European immigrant friends are much stronger, much tougher,” he told Good Housekeeping magazine.