Student Launchpad Coop

Welcome

Launch your career in the food sector! Learn more about graduate careers, meet professionals working in the food sector and gain skills to improve your CV and interview technique.

 

Why a career in the Food Sector?
Meet the mentors
Directions to the venue

Programme

10:00 – 10:30

Arrival and Registration

10:30 – 10:50 Introduction and welcome
Nicole Tallant, Director of Co-op Brand and Technical, Co-op
Robin Leaper, Education and Careers Manager, Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
10:50 – 11:10 Opportunities in the food sector
Martin Ford, Head of Technical, Co-op
11:10 – 11:40 Interactive group exercise - session led by Robin Leaper
Small group activity focussing on job roles and skills
11:40 – 11:50 Break
11:50 – 12:10 Early career perspective
Nicola Leitch - Career Pathway Business Partner, Pilgrim's Europe
Beth Deyes, Technical Leadership Trainee, Pilgrim's Europe
12:10 – 12:30 Standing out from the crowd - a recruitment perspective
Tbc
12:30 – 14:00 Food Mentor Networking Lunch
Speed networking tables with 'mentors' from a range of roles in the food sector
14:00 – 14:20 A career in Technical
Phil Penny, Head of Technical, Co-op
Felicity Richmond - Technical Relations Manager, Pilgrim's Europe
14:20 – 14:40 Virtual Factory Tour - Raynor Foods Sandwich Factory
Robin Leaper, Education and Careers Manager, IFST
14:40 – 15:00 Introduction to IFST - including competitions, awards, events
Robin Leaper

Hosted by:

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, owned by more than 5 million members. They are the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer with more than 2,500 local, convenience and medium-sized stores. The Co-operative Group has its origins in Rochdale, Lancashire.

Sponsored by:

Pilgrim's Europe is a top UK and European food company employing 17,000+ team members across 40+ sites in the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. We are a leader in making quality food sustainably in partnership with local farmers through our Poultry, Pork, Lamb and Beef supply chains.

Driven by passion and insight, we create better food for everyone, producing own label and branded fresh chicken, pork and lamb, as well as authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added value and food service products for multiple markets. Our iconic brands include Fridge Raiders, Richmond, Denny, Galtee, Rollover, Oakhouse and Moy Park.

Building on the best of Moy Park, Pilgrim’s UK, Pilgrim’s Food Masters and Pilgrim’s Shared Services, we bring unrivalled scale and expertise to our customers and the opportunity of a better future for our employees