http://www.prlog.org/11871505-industry-apprenticeship-roadshow-heads-to-the-north-west.html

Industry Apprenticeship Roadshow Heads to the North West

PRLog (Press Release) – May 10, 2012 –
The Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) Apprenticeship Roadshow’s next stop will be in the North West on Thursday 5th July at the Marriott Hotel in Preston. Food and drink businesses interested in finding out more about apprenticeships or looking to expand their existing programmes are welcome to attend.

Speakers include FDF’s Roadshow partners, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the National Skills Academy for food and drink, who will give food manufacturers advice on how to get the most from apprenticeships. Attendees will have an opportunity to share their own experiences of apprenticeships, as well as hear direct from two apprentices from Nestlé UK’s Dalston site.

FDF’s Apprenticeship Roadshows are a key part of the industry’s commitment to double the number of apprenticeships in the sector by the end of 2012. The Roadshows are delivered in partnership with the NAS and the National Skills Academy for food and drink, and are intended to inform food companies of the benefits apprentices can bring to businesses, such as increased productivity and a more motivated workforce.

Angela Coleshill, FDF Director of Competitiveness, said:
“As an industry we are taking collective action via our careers campaign Taste Success – A Future in Food – to help build a pool of talented apprentices that can be developed and deployed across the industry – building skills for the future.
“Our regional Apprenticeship Roadshows are an important way to get food and drink businesses on-board with apprenticeships. They are great forum for sharing ideas and best practice amongst companies, and for interested companies to learn more about what’s on offer.”

Sue Price, Divisional Apprenticeship Director – North, National Apprenticeship Service said:

“An increasing number of businesses have invested and expanded in Apprenticeships over recent years because the programmes are proven to offer a host of benefits both to the employer and individual. These benefits range from improved productivity and competitiveness, to better staff retention and motivation.

This growth in Apprenticeships has been supported by the Government’s commitment to placing Apprenticeships at the heart of their drive to equip people of all ages with the skills employers need to prosper and compete”.

Justine Fosh, Director at the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink said:

“The National Skills Academy for Food and Drink is delighted to be supporting the FDF’s apprenticeship pledge. In the past apprenticeships have been seen as mainly relevant to engineering roles but this is simply not the case now – there are now apprenticeships for the food sector that cover the whole range of job roles in our industry – from craft baker to continuous improvement manager, meat processor to milling operative.
“As specialists in food industry training, and as part of Improve the organisation that designs apprenticeships for our industry, we can assist any food business interested in apprenticeship activity. We are offering all FDF members, as part of the pledge, a personal visit and free one to one advice session to help them get started or expand their apprenticeship activity.”
For more information, please contact Rebecca Wilhelm on 020 7420 7140

Paul Champion
Strategic Project Manager

Mobile: 07540 704920