The Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), the Professional Food Science, Engineering and Technology Group (ProFSET) and Mondelēz International celebrated the second rendition of the award-winning* ProFSET Food Engineer Launchpad on Friday 9 October 2026.
Bringing together 72 Engineering Students, from top local universities, the event promoted the food and drink sector as an aspirational career destination and introduced the complex manufacturing processes that underpin the production of consumers’ favourite products.
The event also highlighted the contribution that the sector makes to the economy. Food and drink manufacturing remains the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, contributing £42 billion in Gross Value Added and directly employing nearly 500,000 people. Despite this, many students remain unaware of the opportunities available in the sector, with the Launchpad helping to build understanding of the breadth of roles on offer, as well as the technology and capabilities that food and drink manufacturers deploy.
Hosted at Mondelēz International’s iconic site in Bournville – the home of Cadbury – students were introduced to the end-to-end manufacturing process of chocolate, from bean to bar. This included a tour of production lines in the Cadbury factory and an introduction to the product development process in the pilot plant. Students also attended presentations on the technology used to develop products from ideation to delivery, and the trialling processes involved in bringing new products to market.
Alongside students, the Launchpad brought together representatives from across the food and drink sector to discuss how manufacturers, trade bodies and academia can work together to raise the profile of careers in food and drink manufacturing. Discussions also centred on how organisations can collaborate to conduct research and support national economic and social objectives, including in areas such as food safety, digitalisation, health and sustainability.
Attendees included the University of Birmingham, Aston University, the Manufacturing Technical Sector, Skills England, Engineering UK, the Institute of Grocery Distribution and the Food and Drink Federation.
The event was organised by ProFSET, a collaborative group of eleven professional organisations including the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), the Institute of Physics (IOP), the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). All members are committed to fostering innovation and nurturing the next generation of professionals in the food and drink sector.
Robin Leaper, Learning and Development Manager, Institute of Food Science and Technology, said: “Food and drink is the largest advanced manufacturing sector in the UK, supporting nearly half a million jobs. The ProFSET Food Engineer Launchpad helps to promote engineering opportunities to students, raising awareness of the breadth of the sector and helping to secure the next generation of talent”.
Martyn Robinson, Senior Food Scientist, Mondelēz International, commented: “Mondelēz International was delighted to host the ProFSET Food Engineer Student Engineer Launchpad for a second time. The food and drink sector has so much to offer engineering students, from developing new innovative products that delight consumers, to adopting new technologies in factories. We hope that students enjoyed the day and will now consider the sector as a career destination”.
For more information about the Food Engineer Launchpad, future ProFSET events or IFST initiatives, visit profset.org. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the Launchpad on social media using #FoodEngineerLaunchpad2026. Visit this album for the pictures taken during the event.
*The ProFSET Food Engineer Student Launchpad won Education Initiative of the Year at the 2025 Food and Drink Federation Awards.