Feeding Britain's Future

Who can honestly say they knew what they wanted to do when they were 14? If I am truthful, all I knew was that I wanted a nice car, nice holidays and a relatively easy life…quite how I was going to go about getting those things was a minor detail that would become clear when I was “older and wiser”. However, now being “older and wiser” I have realised that a little bit of guidance on the journey would have been really helpful!

So, when the food industry charity IGD got in contact about their Feeding Britain’s Future programme, I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer.

What is Feeding Britain's Future?

Feeding Britain’s Future is an employability programme aimed at helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in the workplace and bringing to life the wide range of food and grocery careers available”.

Susan Barratt, CEO Feeding Britain's Future

With so many careers available, and often very little understanding of what each entail, settling on a career choice can be almost impossible while at school. Support at this time can be invaluable, as with a clear career plan in mind, a child can set themselves up well for what their future plans might require, in terms of qualifications, work experience or volunteering. Fortunately, a volunteering opportunity arose nearby and on a Thursday afternoon I arrived at the school to talk to a group of Year 9 students.

I have to admit I was nervous! Presenting is never without apprehension, and as the assembly hall filled with ninety chattering teenagers and the headmaster summoned their attention, all I could think was, “teachers make this look really easy!” Despite initial trepidation, once the group was split into smaller groups, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The afternoon was facilitated by another volunteer who began by playing a video explaining the FMCG industry, its value and volume sales. The video introduced people with food and grocery jobs, and discussed career paths available in the sector. After we introduced ourselves, it was over to the children to discuss their thoughts, with us prompting and supporting where necessary. We covered their career aspirations, their hobbies, their strengths and opportunities and their first impressions of the food and grocery industry. Once complete, we were asked to present for a short time about what we did and the children were encouraged to ask questions about our role and the general industry. Despite the group being relatively young, there were some fantastic questions regarding day-to-day activities, new product development, access routes and applicable qualifications.

The afternoon ended with the simple question being posed, “what would you tell your 14-year-old self”?

My answer was to keep asking questions. Ask your bosses, colleagues, employees, anyone! Often, I believe people are afraid to speak up in the fear of looking inferior, but that is far from the truth. Everyone has to learn and the more questions you ask the quicker the learning process is. And then, the bell rang and with a flurry of thanks they were gone.

I genuinely feel that the programme makes a difference to the children that undertake it. Whether they plan now to enter the food and grocery industry or not, it allows them the opportunity to take time to consider their future and what steps they should take now to help land their dream role.

What a great experience, one definitely to be repeated!

To find out more or to volunteer visit Feeding Britain’s Future