New FWD Future Leaders Index to promote careers
Food & Drink Wholesale UK (FWD) has launched the Future Leaders Index to promote careers in wholesale
The wholesale sector can play a key role in tackling youth unemployment, by providing meaningful career opportunities for the nearly one million young people in the UK who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), according to a new report launched by Food & Drink Wholesale UK (FWD).
The report was launched at FWD’s Wholesale Star Awards at the House of Commons yesterday (7 July), attended by more than 150 MPs, Peers and representatives from across the wholesale sector. Former Cabinet Minister Baroness Warsi delivered the keynote address at the annual event, which saw young professionals from across the industry receive awards for their contribution to the industry and emergence as future food leaders.
The FWD Future Leaders Index gives under-35s working across the wholesale sector a platform to shape the industry’s future. The report reveals that while awareness of wholesale careers remains low (80% of respondents identified this as a barrier), every young professional surveyed (100%) said they would recommend a career in the sector. Respondents also highlighted on-the-job experience (68%) and clear progression routes (58%) as two of wholesale’s greatest strengths in attracting and developing talent. Once they are working in wholesale, respondents identify the support of managers (86%) and mentors (70%) key to their career development.
This shows clear opportunities and job satisfaction once they are working in wholesale. The challenge remains attracting a young workforce to the sector.
Commenting on the report, Lyndsey Cambridge-Wilson, Head of External Affairs, FWD, said: “Eight in ten respondents told us there is a lack of awareness about the career opportunities available in the food and drink wholesale channel. Nearly as many said people don’t understand the career paths available. That tells me we have a job to do as a collective. We need to champion the breadth of careers our sector offers – whether that’s in logistics, technology, finance, operations, sales, marketing, HR or leadership. We need to be in more schools, colleges and universities promoting the opportunities we have for the taking. We want to ensure that the next generation of talent not only know about the opportunities in our sector, but they make a conscious choice to choose our sector.”
Following her keynote address, Baroness Warsi said: “I was delighted to speak at FWD’s Wholesale Star Awards. Having spent much of my career in business, I know successful organisations are built by their people. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many outstanding young professionals who are helping to shape the future of the wholesale sector and the wider food supply chain. The UK faces a significant challenge in supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training into work. As the Future Leaders Index demonstrates, wholesale offers a genuine opportunity for young people to build successful and fulfilling careers.”
For further information about the Future Leaders Index please contact fwduk@dgagroup.com
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi Future Leaders Index FWD Lyndsey Cambridge-Wilson