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.
Programme
| 10:00 – 10:30 |
Arrival and Registration |
| 10:30 – 10:40 | Introduction and welcome Paul Dempsey, Head of Food Quality and Process, Co-op Robin Leaper, Learning and Development Manager, Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) |
| 10:40 – 11:00 | Opportunities in the food sector Panel session exploring different roles across the sector - Led by Eddy Donnelly, Co-op |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Interactive exercise - Quality Panel Activity looking into the fuction of a quality panel |
| 11:30 – 11:40 | Introduction to Co-op Who are Co-op and how the business operates Stephanie Blane, Commercial Excellence and Technical Director, Co-op |
| 11:40 – 12:00 | A Career in Technical Phil Penny, Head of Technical, Co-op Felicity Richmond - Technical Relations Manager, Pilgrim's Europe |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | Food Sector Mentor Networking Lunch Speed networking tables with 'mentors' from a range of roles in the food sector |
| 13:30 – 13:40 | Break |
| 13:40 – 14:00 | Early career perspective Nicola Leitch - Career Pathway Business Partner, Pilgrim's Europe Aoife McKinney - Technical Graduate Trainee, Pilgrim's Europe |
| 14:00 – 14:20 | Standing out from the crowd - a recruitment perspective How to perfect your CV and succeed at interview |
| 14:20– 14:40 | Interactive exercise - Interviews Short task working in pairs focussing on competency based interview questions |
| 14:40 – 15:00 | Introduction to IFST Information on our support, mentoring, competitions, awards and events |
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