Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss was guest of honour at the Nestlé Academy Graduation Ceremony in York last week. The event was attended by over 35 graduates and apprentices who have all achieved a variety of qualification and training programmes.
The ceremony provided an opportunity to witness the company’s commitment to youth employment in the food industry. At the end of 2013, Nestlé announced it will create 1,900 UK and Ireland employment opportunities for young people over the next three years. This includes 300 paid work experience placements and doubling the number of graduates and apprentices into the business.
The ceremony was hosted at the Nestlé Product Technology Centre, the global centre for confectionery R&D, which completed a £7 million expansion in 2013.
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:
“Food and drink is a powerhouse of our economy and the country’s biggest manufacturing sector, greater than cars and aerospace combined. With innovation, science and creativity at its heart it offers a wealth of exciting and rewarding career opportunities to our young people. I’m delighted to have met with Nestlé’s talented young employees who represent the bright future of this vital industry.”
Following the ceremony, the Environment Secretary visited the AERO factory at one of the World’s largest confectionery sites and a significant employer in the City. The AERO factory was a £20 million investment in 2008 and manufacturers over 200 million bars a year in addition to AERO Bubbles.
For further information, please contact:
Nestlé Press Office, 020 8667 6005 [email protected]