FDF: Investing in Our People Will Help to Realize Shared Vision for Growth

18 Jul 2013 --- Funding for the development of a new National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering will help industry and government to realise their shared vision for growth, the FDF has said.

Speaking at an FDF Centenary parliamentary reception celebrating the contribution of industry's skilled and talented individuals, FDF President Jim Moseley welcomed the award of £6.9million by Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to support in the development of a National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering.

Food and Drink Federation President Jim Moseley said:

“Not only will students on the UK's first food and drink engineering degree experience close industry involvement but they'll also be supported in their studies by a state of the art National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering. The £6.9million award to Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) along with a significant number of pledges of industry support will create a cutting edge facility which will act as a hub for R&D and innovation solutions, as well as providing industry the facilities for workforce development.”

Mr Moseley also used his address to issue a call to action for FDF members to get involved in this year's See Inside Manufacturing initiative.

“To attract new talent to the industry to fill our skills gap we need more young people to consider food and drink manufacturing as a career of first choice. Alongside our Taste Success campaign, our involvement in See Inside Manufacturing will help us to bring to life the fantastically varied careers available in the industry. That's why we're asking more members to get involved with this exciting initiative so that we can help more young people decide whether they might have a future in food.”

The reception was hosted by John Stevenson MP. Anne McIntosh MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Work, and Pensions Minister Mark Hoban were guest keynote speakers at the event.