NextGen initiative aims to encourage young people to enter the foodservice equipment industry
FEA recently brought together the leadership team for its NextGen initiative for the first time. NextGen aims to attract young people into the foodservice equipment industry and support them as they establish and develop their careers.
The meeting was held on March 18th at FEA’s offices in London. Led by Natalie Courbet CFSP and Greg Archer MBE, it was an absorbing session aimed at determining how NextGen will engage with school leavers, students in colleges and universities and industry newcomers. It covered a diverse range of topics, from the variety of day-to-day work to ways of engaging with potential recruits to the industry. Amongst the next steps agreed were the production of a ‘Day in the Life of Our Industry’ video; market research to understand what school and college leavers want to see; exploring collaboration with industry charities that already champion our sector; and creating careers information packs.
NextGen aims to build a skilled workforce in the industry in a number of ways, including showcasing career opportunities, strengthening engagement between education and employers, and supporting early career development for new employees. Its guiding principles are based on being youth led, inclusive, collaborative and innovative, as well as remaining authentic and sustainable.
The particular responsibilities of the leadership team will be to provide the industry with guidance and support surrounding the implementation of NextGen initiatives. NextGen will be aiming to promote the full spectrum of different careers the foodservice equipment industry offers, including engineering, design, service, sales, logistics, and project management, to name a few.
Isabelle Harvey, of Food Service Equipment Spares, is one of the new leadership team. “I think the NextGen initiative is a really inspiring idea,” she says. “When I left school, I had no clear idea of what I wanted to do. If the food equipment industry had been presented to me as an option back then, it’s definitely something I would have considered. It offers so many different pathways and opportunities. I hope we can portray the food industry in a much better light and promote it as a genuine career choice, rather than something people simply fall into.”
“The leadership team covers all the different facets of what we do as an industry,” says Liam Green CFSP of Forest Catering Equipment. “Taking that experience and showcasing our passion within it will really help to shape the future of the foodservice equipment sector.”
FEA has announced the first NextGen Masterclass, which will take place at the Century Club in London on April 22nd. This event is open to every member of the NextGen initiative, but spaces are limited. To secure your place sign up at this link: https://tinyurl.com/FEANextGenMasterclass
The members of the FEA NextGen leadership team are:
🔹Alex Burley, Electrolux Professional
🔹Natalie Courbet, Exclusive Ranges – Chair
🔹Eider Gajate Emazabel CFSP, Unox
🔹Liam Green CFSP, Forest Catering Equipment Ltd
🔹Isabelle Harvey, Food Service Equipment Spares
🔹Kyle James, WAM Engineering Services
🔹Niklas Moore, Hupfer
🔹Claire Moss, Kre-ate Ltd
🔹Chris Noble CFSP, Falcon Foodservice Equipment
🔹James Peeke, Tricon
🔹Leigh Rayson, Catertherm
🔹Chris Stevens, Quintex Systems
🔹Luke Taylor, MKN
🔹Joshua Troth, Parts Town
🔹Alexandra Waring CFSP, Foxton Budd