Nestlé unveils youth employment initiative

Over 600 new jobs will be available each year through the initiative, including operator roles on its factory floors, and forms part of Nestlé’s European Youth Employment Initiative.

The initiative is designed to provide 20,000 people across Europe with employment opportunities - half being offered as apprentice positions and traineeships.

Industry must step up and help young people bridge the gap between education and employment

Nestle UK & Ireland CEO Fiona Kendrick

A study published today by management consultancy Populous claims that current work experience programmes are resulting in young people being unable to develop the necessary skills for the workplace.

Commissioned by Nestlé, the study reports that nine out of 10 businesses felt young people left school ill-equipped to start work.

It also says that despite 62% of business leaders believing that only work experience could give young people the skills they needed to gain employment, only a third felt that they got any value out of offering it.

Nestlé UK & Ireland chief executive officer Fiona Kendrick said: “Industry must step up and help young people bridge the gap between education and employment.

“We cannot leave this problem to the Government and schools. We need to work together to help young people – and to develop the next generation of skilled employees for the future.”