The future of the UK manufacturing industry lies with the growth potential of the food sector, an industry expert has claimed.
Promoting Britain’s first bakery college, which is being sponsored by Sainsbury’s, the supermarket chain’s chief executive Justin King told the Times that food manufacturing is something the UK should invest in to become a global leader.
Mr King told the news provider: "There’s been a view that food manufacturing and food science jobs are inferior to heavy industry and engineering.
"Food manufacturing is a massive contributor to wealth … the level of employment food manufacturing creates is huge. We’re able to offer genuine life career opportunities."
He advised that the government should actively promote apprenticeships within the food sector to get the industry’s conveyor belts working at full allocation.
His optimism for the UK food industry will be welcome news to experienced staff at existing Cadbury facilities who are facing redundancies following the acquisition of the firm by US food chain Kraft.
Sainsbury’s is not the only UK supermarket to invest in the future of food, Asda is providing 15,000 work experience placements to 14 to 16-year-olds and 15,000 apprenticeships to existing staff, the news provider reports.
Conveyors – screw conveyors – chain conveyors – belt conveyorsJames Smith