Firms urged to help attract new recruits (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Firms urged to help attract new recruits

10:10am Monday 6th September 2010 in

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Food and drink manufacturers in Yorkshire are to help develop a training programme aimed at getting more young people working in the industry.

Employers are expected to need another 17,000 workers by 2017.

Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, has secured Government backing to develop a programme to try to tackle the shortage.

The programme will be funded through the Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee, a scheme run by the Department for Work and Pensions which guarantees training and employment opportunities to 18 to 24-year-olds who have been unemployed for six months or more. Improve is inviting employers to join a group which will oversee the development of the programme to ensure it is relevant to the needs of the industry.

Justine Fosh, director of skills solutions for Improve, said: “Food and drink is one industry where there are still plenty of employment opportunities, especially for young people.

“The industry needs more young people coming into it because its workforce is ageing and we are anticipating a high demand for new recruits to replace those who retire or leave the industry over the coming years – something in the region 17,000 job places in Yorkshire and Humberside alone by 2017.”

She said concern over employment for young people was high at the moment.

She said: “We have been able to demonstrate to the Government that opportunities exist in food and drink, that we have the capacity to train and develop young people looking for work and provide them with rewarding careers.

“We are at an early stage, with just the outline of the programme agreed in principle. We will be developing high-quality training aimed at preparing them for long-term employment and fulfilling the skills needs of the companies they work for.

“That is why it is important for us to have employers on board shaping the programme.”

Employers interested in getting involved should e-mail L.Pattison@ foodanddrink.nsacademy.co.uk.