Nestlé backs food engineering degree (From York Press)

Nestlé backs food engineering degree

9:43am Monday 11th February 2013 in Business news

Nestlé has supported the UK’s first accredited engineering degree dedicated entirely to food and drink manufacturing.

The MEng Food Engineering, which will be offered exclusively by Sheffield Hallam University, has been launched by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, David Heath MP as part of efforts to grow the sector by 20 per cent by 2020.

Nestlé UK & Ireland chairman and chief executive Fiona Kendrick said the lack of food and drink specialist skills hits Nestlé’s business and the industry at large and the new course would help them improve skills at its UK sites, including York.

She said: “At Nestlé, one of the biggest challenges we face is recruiting the best talent for our business.

“Our success depends on our ability to remain competitive and innovate. However, a lack of engineering and technical expertise will hold our industry back.”