Prince’s Trust launches food sector initiative
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster , Ian Jeffers, Director of The Princes Trust in Northern and Ian Jordan (head of business and commercial banking, Ulster Bank
THE Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland used the backdrop of the Balmoral Show to announce the launch of their Food Leadership Group, a collaboration sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland and partners from across the local food manufacturing and farming sectors.
During the Ulster Bank lunch at the Balmoral Show the Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: “The agri-food sector is one of the most important sectors within the local economy. Due to its strong focus on exports, the sector has demonstrated a strong track record of growth even through the global recession.”
Mrs Foster took the opportunity during her speech to formally announce the formation of The Prince’s Trust Food Leadership Group: “Having a job is important to everyone and the Prince’s Trust Food Leadership Programme seeks to match the problems of youth unemployment to job opportunities in the food sector – made possible by industry collaboration.
“In today’s competitive job market, having on-the-job skills is vitally important. Initiatives such as this open doors for young people who have not been able to find employment and they help them to gain life skills and on-the-job training. Providing relevant training can also help avoid skills shortages and increase business productivity.”
Created in recognition of the need to address the skills and diversity shortage faced by the industry, the Food Leadership Group will support the trust’s industry-related Get Into Food programme and provide work and training opportunities for disadvantaged young people which will include both specific enterprise workshops and follow-up mentoring.
Ian Jeffers, director of The Prince’s Trust in Northern said: “We are indebted to these founding companies who have shown their commitment to building better lives for disadvantaged young people across Northern Ireland. This initiative is the first in the UK and demonstrates how the agri-food sector are actively working together to place young people into apprenticeships, employment and training.”
The Prince’s Trust is a youth charity that helps change young lives. It offers practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13 to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. It has helped more than 600,000 young people since 1976 and supported 100 more each working day.
More than three in four young people it helped last year moved into work, education or training. Around one in five young people in the UK are not in work, education or training.
Food Leadership Group members include companies such as Linden Foods, Dunbia Meats, Dale Farm, Moy Park and O’Kane Poultry who collectively wish to provide work and training opportunities for the disadvantaged young people helped by The Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland.
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