The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) has urged the food and drink industry to commit to equipping young people to work and progress in the industry.

Urging the industry to commit to ‘Feeding Britain’s Future’, IGD said the initiative’s goal was to reverse the number of people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and inspire a generation to “make their career” in food and drink.

Naomi Kissman, social impact director at IGD, commented: “Nearly a million young people are neither learning nor earning, they are the Gen Z NEETs, and the number is growing. They face a ‘jobpocalypse’ and the nation faces a lost generation as living costs rise and entry level employment opportunities dwindle.

“Meanwhile the food industry has its own quiet crisis brewing – workforce shortages and skills gaps mean as an industry that is relied on by everyone, every day, we risk affecting future availability and customer service. Addressing these challenges is not only a social imperative, but a commercial one – strengthening the future workforce on which our entire food system depends.”

IGD highlighted that there are currently 946,000 or one in eight young adults NEET. ‘Feeding Britain’s Future’ will aim to help the industry address its long-term workforce shortages and skills gaps by offering pathways and purpose to the next generation.

To do so, the campaign will aim to:

• Scale meaningful engagement through schools employability workshops
• Offer modernised work experience
• Equip the influencers who shape career choices

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s CEO, commented: “Great jobs and brilliant people sit behind the good food we serve to our customers everyday but many young people today are struggling to get the experience they need to develop a fulfilling, vibrant career in our industry.

“Partnerships that open doors to opportunity, build skills and help people get real experience of roles across the food sector are essential to supporting future careers. We’re proud to be supporting the IGD’s Feeding Britian’s Future programme, to help young people gain the experience they need to thrive in careers across our food system.”

Sarah Wilkinson, people director at Morrisons, stated: “Grocery retail creates opportunities in diverse communities all across the country. Feeding Britain’s Future amplifies this by improving core employability skills, introducing people to careers within our industry earlier, and strengthening pathways into employment all across the sector.”

Donna-Maria Lee, chief people officer at Greencore, said: “From manufacturing to marketing, our industry offers many meaningful careers. That’s why we’re proud to support Feeding Britain’s Future: inspiring young people from all backgrounds to understand the skills employers need, explore the breadth of our industry, and see a future where they can belong, grow and succeed.”