Food and drink manufacturers across England, Scotland and Wales have been successful in their bid to offer hundreds of job placements to young people as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme.

Led jointly by the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) and the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), 400 young people will receive real industry experience and a wage during their six-month job placement.

All participants who complete their placement will also receive a food and drink manufacturing ‘passport’ confirming their readiness to take up a job in the industry, along with an employability programme delivered by Youth Employment UK. The FDF says it hopes that many of the Kickstart participants will be taken on as apprentices once they have completed their placements.

Commenting on the scheme, Ian Wright CBE, FDF chief executive, said: “Businesses across food and drink manufacturing are delighted to support the Kickstart scheme. It offers young people real pay and real workplace experiences. That combination offers an excellent way to kickstart their careers.”

Minister for Employment, Mims Davies MP, added: “It’s great to see food and drink manufacturers rallying together to offer 400 young people vital opportunities to gain key industry experience and training through the Kickstart Scheme, boosting their longer term prospects.

“This demonstrates how our Plan for Jobs is helping people back into work and vitally supporting employers in high demand and key growth sectors to recruit, as we push to build back better and level up opportunity across the country.”

Photograph: Ian Wright CBE, FDF chief executive.