The food and drink industry has been selected to inspire school children into careers in manufacturing by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Companies within the sector will open up their factories to visits from schools as part of this year’s ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ in June, which the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) hopes will reverse negative connotations of industry held by young people.

At the BIS Manufacturing Summit yesterday, Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “We are rolling out See Inside Manufacturing following a successful trial last year. This year we welcome the food and drink industry into the scheme, in addition to the automotive and aerospace and defence industries.”

Mr Prisk continued: “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.”

Speaking alongside the Business Minister the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) director general, Melanie Leech, highlighted the importance of showing young people the career opportunities available to them.

Ms Leech said: “We are delighted that the food and drink industry has been selected as one of the key sectors to be involved in ‘See Inside Manufacturing’.

Ms Leech added: “See Inside Manufacturing will build on the work our members are already doing with young people and help them see a career in food and drink manufacturing as an exciting and smart choice.”