Action Plan Launches For Food & Drink Industry

Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry today launched the Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Plan during a visit to Moy Park's processing plant in Craigavon.

The action plan is a culmination of interventions which have been identified by employers, representatives from education and government officials as being central to addressing the skills needs of the sector.

Among these are initiatives to improve the management and leadership skills of employees across the sector, a campaign to educate school teachers and young people about the wide variety of quality career opportunities available in the industry and interventions to make it easier for employers to access training provision.

Speaking during his visit, Minister Farry said: "This action plan is a welcome development for the food and drink manufacturing and processing industry. This is an important sector within our economy and I welcome employers proactive involvement in addressing the skills needs of the industry. The initiatives contained in the plan will be delivered over the next three years and I am confident that these will ensure a highly skilled workforce that will support the growth of this sector."

The Minister was shown around the premises by Tony O’Neill, Director at Moy Park and Chair of the Future Skills Action Group which oversaw the development of the action plan. Welcoming the plan on behalf of employers, Mr O’Neill commented: "The food and drink manufacturing and processing sector in Northern Ireland is huge, with over 19,000 employees. If we want to see our industry continue to grow and become a key player on the world stage then it is vital that we, as employers, continue to take an active role in pushing forward the actions on this plan."

(CD)