A total of £4M has been invested by CCE into its national education programme since 2011, which has reached more than 300,000 young people, it claimed.
The Milton Keynes facility cost £810,000 and was built as part of a wider £2M investment plan at the factory last year, which coincided with a further investment of £1.5M this year.
£16M investment
A total of £16M has been invested in the Milton Keynes site in the past five years, CCE said.
At the launch of the education centre today (October 2), Hubert Patricot, executive vice president and president of CCE’s Europe group, said: “Today’s announcement of our investment milestone is proof of our recognition of the importance of highlighting the career opportunities available across the sector.”
The centre was opened by George Eustice, MP and food and farming minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
“The food and drink manufacturing sector is the UK’s biggest, generating almost £25bn and employing 400,000 people,” he said.
‘Wealth of exciting careers’
“There is a wealth of exciting careers available across the industry and it’s important we develop the talented workforce for the future.”
CCE’s education centres would help address the need for more skills in the food and drink manufacturing sectors, Eustice added.
Earlier this year, Steve Adams, CCE’s supply chain director, revealed to FoodManufacture.co.uk that CCE was building the Milton Keynes education centre.
“It’s important not just as part of the local community, but nationally as well, to make sure we’re bringing young people through our plants and giving them the opportunity to link to their curriculum,” he said in a video.
CCE’s education centres:
- Wakefield
- Milton Keynes
- Edmonton
- Sidcup
- East Kilbride
- Lincolnshire