Girls get a taste of food engineering

In partnership with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and youth social business, MyKindaFuture, the venture aims to promote careers in food and drink engineering - the UK’s largest manufacturing sector.

A-Level and BTECH students from local schools in the North West took part in the workshop, solving real-life factory case studies to give an insight into food and drink manufacturing, and the day-to-day problems encountered by engineers.

This activity is vital to giving students a real insight into what a career in food and drink manufacturing can be

MyKindaFuture MD William Akerman

The event also provided an opportunity for the students to network with employees at some of the UK’s biggest food and drink companies.

Angela Coleshill, director of employment and skills at FDF said that ventures such as these were a top priority for industry, which needs over 100,000 new recruits in the next seven years to meet skills shortages in areas such as engineering.

“At the heart of this collaboration is the aim to raise awareness for the industry-backed Bachelors and Masters in Food Engineering degrees at Sheffield Hallam University,” she said.

The event also forms part of FDF’s ‘Women into STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths)’ pledge to encourage women to pursue science or engineering careers in food and drink.

MyKindaFuture works with over 70 UK businesses to help employers connect with the next generation, from school leavers to graduates. It recruits them onto work experience, internships, apprenticeships and graduate programmes.

“We’re glad the manufacturing industry is again proactively supporting the skills agenda,” said William Akerman, managing director of MyKindaFuture.

“This activity is vital to giving students a real insight into what a career in food and drink manufacturing can be and to support the creation of a strong future talent pipeline.”