Press Release
Business minister joins local school on Coca-Cola visit for 'See Inside'
18 June 2012
Today, the minister of state for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk, will be joining students from Uxbridge College on a visit to Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) site in Edmonton to witness the Government's 'See Inside Manufacturing' programme in action.
The minister and students will get to see inside CCE's state of the art manufacturing site and meet its employees. The Minister will also get to see how CCE uses its multi-award winning 'Education Centres' to give students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of the 'world of work' and to make connections between what they learn in the classroom and real-life business and manufacturing practice.
CCE is one of several food and drink manufacturers opening its doors to pupils, teachers and careers advisors for See Inside Manufacturing this month. In partnership with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), nearly 1,250 people will be visiting food and drink companies all across the UK to learn more about the sector. By opening its doors, the food and drink manufacturing industry is hoping to attract talent for the future. This is particularly important as the sector will need around 137,000 new recruits by 2017 to replace those retiring or leaving the industry. Through the 'Taste Success – A Future in Food' campaign, FDF is working to shed the sector's image of production lines, hairnets and wellies, and to highlight the wide range of exciting job opportunities available in highly skilled and well paid professions.
See Inside Manufacturing is run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in conjunction with organisations such as FDF, and aims to improve the image of manufacturing whilst also inspiring young people to consider careers in sectors such as food and drink.
FDF director of communications Terry Jones said:
“We are delighted that the Business Minister Mark Prisk will get to 'see inside' Coca-Cola Enterprises today - one of our industry's many shining examples of engaging the next generation in food and drink manufacturing.
“As an industry, we know that to realise our potential and to deliver our shared vision with government of 20% growth by 2020, we will need to attract the best talent. Engaging with young people to bring to life a career in food and drink is a key priority for FDF, and the main driver behind our Taste Success – A Future in Food campaign. Programmes such as See Inside Manufacturing support this work by offering an invaluable opportunity for young people, teachers and careers advisers to learn more about food and drink manufacturing and what a great career choice it is.”
Simon Baldry, managing director of Coca-Cola Enterprises, comments:
“CCE is committed to the development of young people, and we are fully supportive of government efforts to educate the next generation about the world of manufacturing. We already have an established programme of initiatives and dedicated staff working to provide a valuable insight into our business, as well as the wider industry. In addition to the Edmonton facility, we have four other factory-based Education Centres at our sites across the UK, hosting around 20,000 students a year. Through these centres and our annual national education competition, the Real Business Challenge, we have built excellent relationships with schools throughout the country and hope to inspire more students into manufacturing and to become the business leaders of the future.”
The minister of state for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk said:
“See Inside Manufacturing is about changing perceptions of modern manufacturing and showing young people, teachers and careers advisers that the industry offers interesting and rewarding job opportunities.
“Food and drink is the largest manufacturing sector, employing almost 400,000 people. I'm pleased that FDF has come onboard, and that the sector's dynamic businesses are opening their doors to the public. Food and drink is a great asset to the initiative, and just the type of support we need to help dispel outdated myths of manufacturing.”
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