Apprentices from Mondelēz International’s coffee plant in Banbury met UK Food Minister, George Eustice MP, to give him a flavour of life as an apprentice.
Mondelēz International apprentices gave the Minister a tour of the factory, and discussed their day to day roles and how to encourage more young people into apprenticeships. Mondelēz International’s work in local schools through its award-winning Taste of Work programme was highlighted as a way to excite young people into the food and drink industry.
The Minister was also shown the research techniques behind the latest innovations including Tassimo and Kenco Millicano by apprentices working at the Global Centre of Excellence for coffee.
Banbury, the home of Kenco, has over 30 years of apprentices on site and will celebrate the start of its 50th year in September. The site is now producing over 100million jars of instant coffee a year and has developed cutting edge innovations at its R&D centre.
Food and Farming Minister, George Eustice MP, said: “The agri-food sector is worth £97 billion and contributes nearly 4 four million jobs – it is important we have the right workforce in place so the sector continues to thrive.
“Mondelez International is a great example of how industry is ensuring there is a pathway for new entrants into the sector and it was great to have the opportunity to meet some of its sixty apprentices and hear about the training they have received.”
Plant Director Paul Sinclair welcomed the visit saying “We are proud of the ongoing investment we have been making in our people and plant in Banbury, and are delighted to see our apprentices and the apprenticeship programme go from strength to strength.”
Source: press release
