The food and drink manufacturing sector is to throw open its doors this summer in a bid to inspire kids to consider a career in manufacturing.

The sector has been selected to take part in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ scheme, which is designed to highlight the career opportunities available in manufacturing.

As part of the scheme, a variety of food and drink companies will host a series of factory open days around the country to show children what goes on in food and drink manufacturing - from developing a new range of cereals and taste-testing ice cream to creating an advertising campaign for chocolate.

The food and drink sector was already working hard to attract newcomers through existing career campaigns such as Taste Success, said FDF director general Melanie Leech.

“As part of our 20/20 Vision for Growth, we identified attracting talent as one of the key challenges for our sector if we are to deliver sustainable growth of 20% by 2020,” she said.

“Many of our members are already opening their doors to young people. See Inside Manufacturing will build on that work and help many more young people to see a career in food and drink manufacturing as an exciting and smart choice.”

The automotive and aerospace and defence industries will also be taking part in the scheme, which was trialled last year.

“We want to demonstrate the true value of manufacturing, and this will give young people the chance to see the exciting face of modern manufacturing - highly skilled, high-tech and highly paid,” added business minister Mark Prisk.

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