Northern Ireland’s largest food company, Moy Park has pledged its commitment to addressing the skills needs of the agri-food sector by working with the Department of Employment and Learning to drive forward the Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Plan.
The plan was launched by DEL Minister Dr Stephen Farry at Moy Park’s processing plant in Craigavon.
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 proactive involvement from employers such as Moy Park 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 Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Plan sets out a number of 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 measures to make it easier for employers to access training provision.
Tony O’Neill, director at Moy Park and chair of the Future Skills Action Group which oversaw the development of the action plan said: “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.
“Moy Park is proud to be among a number of employers in the sector who have pledged their support to developing the skills of those already working in the sector as well as promoting the wide variety of quality career opportunities available for those considering a job in food and drink manufacturing.”
The Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Plan is a three-year programme of actions and interventions which have been identified by employers, representatives from education and government officials as being central to addressing the skills needs of the sector.
The work on the action plan will be reported back to the newly established Agri-Food Strategy Board.