Kathryn Rose named Apprentice of the Year

Rose picked up her award at a fun-packed black-tie dinner at the London's Hilton Bankside Hotel along with 21 winners from across the spectrum of the food and drink manufacturing industry.

Hailed by Mondelez as the first person in the UK to graduate in her Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship standard, Rose has acted as an ambassador for food industry Apprentices, championing their cause at House of Commons events.

Her end point assessment project was focused on investigating natural alternatives to sugar and formed part of the programme supporting the UK launch of Cadbury 30% reduced sugar chocolate.

'Diverse sector'

Commenting on decision to become a food and drink apprentice Rose said: "I think the fact that the food industry is such a wide and diverse sector, you can go into scientific research as well as manufacturing, and the fact that it's so broad really attracted me to work within the food industry.

"Also, everybody needs to eat and that means we're at the forefront of sustainability and every action that everybody does. It's really exciting to be a part of that industry."

Rose went on to discuss her time as an apprentice, highlighting the transferable skills she learnt while at university and their application in the workplace. These skills went on to benefit the business in tangible ways, with Rose highlighting HACCP and allergen control as two particular areas she's excelled in. 

The future

Looking ahead, Rose planned to continue working in the food industry past her apprenticeship.

"It's so diverse, you can go anywhere," she concluded. "The future is still unknown, but I'm sure I'll stay within the food industry." 

Meanwhile, the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards help highlight the achievements of the food and drink industry and ‘acknowledge and reward’ the hard work companies do to keep the nation fed, according to Charlie Bigham’s general manager Richard Bain.