St Mary's pupils check out some "Tasty Careers"

Tasty Careers ambassador Moyra Rafferty from Irwin’s Bakery has attended St Mary’s High School in Newry to speak to Year 9 pupils about the wide variety of excellent career opportunities available within the food and drink manufacturing sector.

The campaign, which is in its second year has been launched by Improve, the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council and is supported by DARD. The Tasty Careers campaign provides talks from ambassadors in schools across Northern Ireland as well as informative booklets and a ‘teacher’s pack’ to highlight the 6,000 jobs available for skilled workers. To be recruited by 2017, these job opportunities equate to approximately one third of the current employment levels.

As the biggest single manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland, the food and drink sector employs over 19,000 full time employees. Examples of real life case studies included in the booklet will act as ambassadors across a range of job types and levels within the sector. Students will receive an insight into the ambassadors’ day-to-day activities and long-term career prospects as well as advice on the best qualifications and educational path to their current position within the sector. 

Commenting on this year’s campaign launch, Geoff Lamb, NI Operations Manager, Improve, said: “The food and drink industry contributes in excess of £3 billion a year to the local economy and is a pivotal employer within the Northern Ireland market. In a time of great economic uncertainty, the sector provides significant job opportunities in a stable and growing industry.

“The ‘Tasty Careers’ campaign, which is supported by government bodies and key players within the industry, aims to highlight the opportunities available for pupils considering their career options and make them aware of the impending skills shortage and gaps within the market.

“With an average starting salary of £22,000 our ambassadors aim to make pupils aware of these career prospects and encourage uptake within the sector to continue to develop the skills and productivity of our workforce on a global stage.”  

For more information or to book an ambassador, schools can visit www.tastycareers.org.uk