Some of South Holland’s leading food producers are backing a new campaign to help unemployed young people get onto the career ladder.
Feeding Britain’s Future is a national project creating opportunities for jobless 16 to 24-year-olds learn the skills necessary to impress potential employers and discover the range of careers available in the food industry.
About 150 spaces have been created for unemployed young people in South Holland by at least ten firms, including Pinchbeck-based Greencore Food to Go which is running four sessions this month when advice on CV writing and interview skills is available.
Martin Hobbs, Greencore’s human resources manager, said: “We got involved with the scheme after a directive from our head office in Nottinghamshire and last year, we did one session in one day for unemeployed young people.
“This year, we’ve extended it to four days on a weekly basis and the feedback we’ve had from the young people has been fantastic so it’s something we want to back.”
Nationally, the project is a partnership between food producers, the Institute of Grocery Distribution and Jobcentre Plus involving more than 150 businesses and about 15,000 young people at 1,150 locations.
Mario Pastore, manager of Jobcentre Plus in Spalding, said: “There are just over 400 registered unemployed young people in South Holland so it’s great news for jobseekers when businesses come together to create opportunities that will help them into work.