Funding for women in food manufacturing

The funds, initially secured by food and drink skills council Improve, are being used by the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink to make career development training available to over 300 women nationwide. The Academy is offering food and drink manufacturers grants of up to £800 per female trainee to cover the cost of tuition. Firms are not required to make a cash investment but simply an in-kind contribution amounting to paid time away from work of an equivalent amount while the employee is training. Justine Fosh, executive director of the Academy, said: "Women make up a much smaller proportion of the overall workforce in food and drink manufacturing compared to other industries and that is particularly true at senior level." "More and more opportunities are opening up for women at all levels and with the right training they can not only help push their company forward but accelerate their own career to a new level." To take part in supported Women in Work training or find out more about business membership of the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink, contact Claire Myers on 0845-644-0558, email c.myers@foodanddrink.nsacademy.co.uk.